The 80/20 Rule of Emotional Intelligence in the Leadership
The 80/20 Rule of Emotional Intelligence in the Leadership
We've all heard it takes brains to get ahead. But what if raw intellect isn't the key ingredient for career success? Surprisingly, emotional intelligence (EQ) trumps IQ when it comes to high performance and leadership excellence.
You probably recall brilliant students who flunked out of school or professionals who rose rapidly due to people skills, not test scores. The research backs this up: emotional intelligence drives workplace results.
Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, studied top performers across hundreds of companies and roles. He found 80-90% of abilities that distinguish star performers depend on EQ, not IQ. Once people meet the minimum IQ to do a job, emotional intelligence accounts for the wide variation in performance.
So what exactly is emotional intelligence? It's our capacity to manage ourselves and our relationships effectively. This includes self-awareness, self-control, empathy, communication skills, conflict resolution, influence, motivation, and teamwork.
Now consider what's required for leadership success. It goes far beyond technical expertise into inspiring others, promoting innovation, building aligned teams, and creating a winning culture. The more senior the role, the more EQ matters.
Goleman's research discovered 90% of abilities that differentiate outstanding senior leaders relate to emotional intelligence. Leadership is about getting work done through others. That requires empathy, motivation, communication and relationship skills.
We've all seen examples that bear this out. The seasoned engineer passed over for promotion because he lacked people skills. The gifted salesperson who can't manage her anger under pressure. The CEO who fails to inspire loyalty because he doesn't connect emotionally.
On the flip side, many highly effective leaders don't top the IQ charts. However, they have emotional intelligence in spades regarding earning trust, resolving conflicts, promoting teamwork, adapting to change, and driving organizational transformation.
To stay competitive, leaders must keep exploring what's next on the horizon. But they can only take others on this journey through strong emotional intelligence.
Leaders must keep exploring what's next on the horizon to stay competitive.The good news is EQ can be developed through building self-awareness, proactively managing emotions, sharpening social skills, and practicing relationship abilities. Doing so will serve any professional or leader remarkably well.
So, while a high IQ may help you land a job, emotional intelligence will set you apart from the pack. Want to be a star performer and inspirational leader? Make developing your EQ a priority. Your career success depends on it!
