Eq And Success At Work

By Author: AndrewLouis
Total Articles: 12
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What determines how far and how soon you would go on your path to success is your basic job-specific skill. If you are a doctor, your success depends on how well you cure your patients and if you are a lawyer your success depends on how well you solve your clients’ cases. Today much research has established that besides high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) it is highly critical to have a high Emotional Quotient (EQ) to reach the heights of success. EQ is as important, if not more, as IQ.
Many recent studies have time and again proven that employees with high EI are much more likely to cope with stress, be more dedicated to their jobs, and display a greater sense of empathy with colleagues. Emotional Intelligence certainly helps cope with work stress.
According to psychologist Varkha Chulani, employees who indulge in office politics are low on EI and exhibit their insecurities through jealousy and rage. People with such emotional imbalances are not good for the office environment. So recruitment officers will be well advised to administer an EQ test to identify and hire employees who are more emotionally balanced.
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... Akshay Mishra, assistant vice-president with a financial firm, agrees with the findings of the study. "As a team leader I have to constantly deal with stress, while staying positive towards my team," he says. Psychiatrist Anjali Chhabria confirms that people with higher EI do better at work because they are able to understand and express emotions more appropriately than others. "Emotional distress can become a cause for low efficiency. Effectively managing stress and positively coping with it are traits of a person with high EI. People with high EI also exhibit effective leadership skills as they are able to empathize with others and relate to them in an effective manner," she says.
According to a recent study by Galit Meisler of the University of Haifa in Israel, employees with higher EQ (also known as EI, Emotional Intelligence) are more satisfied with and dedicated to their jobs. Defined as the ability to identify, access, and control one's emotions, and that of others, emotional intelligence translates into emotional stability, helping an individual deal with work stress and act positively in work situations. The study concludes that employees with higher levels of EI are more satisfied with and dedicated to their jobs. The research implies that by measuring EI employers can make an educated guess about whether employees will be happy at work.

Meisler surveyed 809 employees in two public organizations and two private companies. He examined the effects of EI on office politics as well as employees' attitudes, feelings of justice, and burnout. Employees who did not analyze and control their emotions demonstrated unfavorable attitudes such as burnout, desire to quit, and negligent behavior.
Some ways to increase your EQ:
1. Work on your body language
We express much by the way we use facial expressions, body posture, and gestures. You need to consciously work on what you are expressing through eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, posture, timing, and pace. Make the right changes in your body language to be perceived as someone who is positive, ready to listen, invested in the work, and interested in the welfare of colleagues.
2. Deal with stress
High stress levels can throw a spanner into the works of even the most intelligent employee; rational thinking and decision making are easy casualties in a stressful atmosphere. Develop coping mechanisms and stress-busting skills to stay balanced, focused, and in control.
3. Have a sense of humor
Use humor to deal with challenges. Humor will help you take hardships in your stride, bounce back from setbacks, and put petty annoyances in perspective. Laughter relaxes the body and creates the mood to seek creative solutions.