What makes a good leader — IQ or emotional intelligence? That’s the question asked by Limaro Ferro Vaz of Headrush, and it’s not a new one. People have been debating IQ versus emotional intelligence in leadership for years. As Limaro shares,
“It was Daniel Goleman who first brought the term ‘emotional intelligence’ to a wide audience with his 1995 book of that name, and it was he who first applied the concept to business with his 1998 Harvard Business Review article.
“In his research at nearly 200 large, global companies, Goleman found that while the qualities traditionally associated with leadership—such as intelligence, toughness, determination, and vision—are required for success, they are insufficient. Truly effective leaders are also distinguished by a high degree of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. Qualities such as assertiveness, adaptability, and conscientiousness were cited as the most important.”
Goleman’s research revealed a direct relationship between emotional intelligence and measurable business results. So how do you develop emotional intelligence? You can start by cultivating the four basic skills of emotional intelligence throughout your career: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management.