The World Economic Forum’s fascinating Future of Jobs Report 2018 set out to discover what top leaders project as the top 10 job skills required for workers to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
One skill for success already in demand today, and projected to trend in 2022 is emotional intelligence. As is the case, emotional intelligence (EQ) has been found to be one of the most desired qualities for personal and professional development.
In countless studies, exemplary employees exhibiting emotional intelligence make the workplace better. For example:
- Teamwork improves. People with higher EQ communicate better with team members than those who are not in tune with their emotional intelligence.
- They share ideas and are open to others’ ideas. They are less likely to dominate a situation and “take over” without considering and consulting the views of others first. This creates trust as the group works together.
- They adjust easily to change and challenging situations. Employees with high EQ know how to handle unhappy customers, disgruntled co-workers, or managers not pleased with their work.
- They stay calm and positive during tough conversations. High EQ workers show firmness and boundaries during a disagreement, conflicts, or disciplinary action (if they’re a manager).
- They are more self-motivated. Employees with high EQ have a growth mindset and are naturally optimistic; they’re motivated by their inner ambition and drive to improve and achieve, take initiative, or act on opportunities.
Try these questions to assess your EQ.
If you’re up for evaluating where you stand in relation to the tenets of emotional intelligence, Daniel Goleman, the foremost authority on emotional intelligence, has put together some key questions to help us determine our own emotional intelligence:
- Are you usually aware of your feelings and why you feel that way?
- Are you aware of your limitations, as well as your personal strengths?
- Can you manage your distressing emotions well–e.g., recover quickly when you get upset or stressed?
- Can you adapt smoothly to changing realities?
- Do you keep your focus on your main goals, and know the steps it takes to get there?
- Can you usually sense the feelings of the people you interact with and understand their way of seeing things?
- Can you guide a negotiation to a satisfactory agreement and help settle conflicts?
- Do you have a knack for persuasion and using your influence effectively?
Originally published on Inc.
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