Understanding emotional intelligence (EI) as the ability to recognize your emotions, the emotions of others with whom you relate, and being able to use those emotions to develop your behavior and relationships (Bradberry and Greaves, 2014) seems like a straight-forward concept. Obvious, even. However, what most people fail to grasp is that a well-honed EI can be what sets apart a colleague from a confidante, a good worker from a leader, and a competent employee from a trustworthy one.
Daniel Goleman, NYT bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence, claims that emotional intelligence is twice as important in predicting career success as cognitive intelligence. And yet, we still place greater emphasis on cognitive knowledge as a key—and perhaps only—indicator for success. Like cognitive knowledge, there are different levels of emotional intelligence and, like any skill, it needs to be continually developed.
Kerry Goyette, therapist and author of the The Non-Obvious Guide to Emotional Intelligence, cautions against underestimating the importance of emotional intelligence and its value in the work place: “emotional intelligence accounts for 90% of career advancements. Similarly, when emotional intelligence and technical skills are on the same level, it is also responsible for 58% of job performance, and that people with high emotional intelligence are likely to earn more than their counterparts with a lower emotional quotient.” Furthermore, research from Rutgers University—a survey of 300 top-level executives from fifteen global companies—found there are five common competencies that separate the stars from average employees: team leadership, organizational awareness, self-confidence, achievement drive, and influence. Emotional intelligence is a fundamental part of each of those competencies.
If you’re looking for career advancement, to inspire your team, or to strengthen your professional and personal relationships, it might be time to invest in your emotional intelligence. Book some time with a CPA Alberta Career Services Advisor and complete your emotional intelligence assessment; our advisors will also help you plan next steps and strategies to take your assessment results and use them to improve your career. You can book your assessment here.
If you have questions about emotional intelligence or any other career-related matter and would like to speak to a certified coach, please email us at: careerservices@cpaalberta.ca
