The Top 10 Things They've Said about Emotional Intelligence

by Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach

This article is currently featured on the worryclub blogpot

1. "If you want to know what will make an oustanding performer, don't look at IQ scores or specific technical skills. Look at the people who are the stars and see the abilities they exhibit that aren't found in people who are mediocre." Richard Boyatzis, prof and dept chair at Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

2. In 1997, the EQI was administered to 1,200 staff Air Force recruiters. The highest performers outscored the lowest in 14 of the 15 EQI (an emotional intelligence assessment tool) competencies."

3. "Emotional competence is the single most important personal quality that each of us must develop and access to experience a breakthrough. Only through managing our emotions can we access our intellect and our technical competence. An emotionally competent person performs better under pressure." Doug Lennick, executive VP of American Express Financial Advisors

4. A growing number of organizatrion are now convinced that people's ability to understand and manage their emotions improves their performance, their collaboration with colleague, and their interaction with customers." Tony Schwartz, author of "How Do You Feel?"

5. To measure emotional intelligence is to measure one's ability to cope with daily situations and to get along in the world. I've conceptualized emotional intelligence as another way of getting at human effectiveness." Reuven Bar-On. Ph.D.

6. My simple -- almost simplistic - question in the beginning was, 'Are there factors that determine one's ability to be effective in life?' Very quickly, I saw that people can have very high IQs, but not succeed. I became interested in the basic differences between people who are more or less emotionally and socially effective in various parts of their lives - in their families, with their partners, in the workplace - and those who aren't." Reuven Bar-On

7. The majority of those we work with are very cognitive and not very experienced with emotions. We're introducing people to a whole new language." Darryl Grigg, psychologist

8. When I sorted out [research results], EQ abilities were twice as important as anything else in distinguishing stars from average performers. And the higher you go in an organization, the more they matter." Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.

9. "It also prompts a shift in perspective. They come out seeing the world differently. For men, who are often talking about emotions for the first time, it opens a window. They finally understand what their mothers and sisters and wives have been talking about all these years when they say, 'You don't communicate with me,' and 'You never tell me what you're feeling.' For women, it's often their first confirmation that qualities like self-awareness and empathy can really make a positive difference in the workplace."Kate Cannon

10. "How come it's all about women and children?" -Business executive taking my EQ Foundation Course (It isn't, it's about emotions)

It's also interesting to note what research using the Eqidis covered regarding substance abuse and spousal abuse. One researcher found that substance abusers in his study had deficits in problem-solving, social responsibility, and stress tolerance. Spouse abusers, on the others hand, suffered from low empathy, poor impulse control, and an inflated sense of self-regard. Interesting.

© Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach. Susan is the author of "The 14th Step," about substance abuse, and other books about EQ. She offers individual coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professinal success. Email her for free ezine,sdunn@susandunn.cc or coaching.