Emotional Quotient: Why EQ Matters More Than Ever

Emotional quotient (EQ)

Emotional quotient (EQ) or emotional intelligence, is a person’s ability to understand, manage, and influence their own emotions while also recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. 

Why is Emotional Quotient (EQ) Important?

Emotional quotient (EQ) is about being intelligent with emotions.

It is a set of personal skills we develop throughout life, such as being socially comfortable, a good listener, and self-aware. It involves managing yourself, resolving conflicts effectively, not getting frustrated in stressful situations, showing empathy, maintaining a positive mindset, and approaching problems with a solution-oriented attitude.

As the saying goes, “If you do not rule your feelings, your feelings will rule you.” Controlling your emotional state is crucial because emotions can override even the most rational decisions. This happens because reactions often occur before we fully process our thoughts.

Mastering EQ helps you channel your emotional energy in productive ways, allowing you to use your feelings to motivate yourself, take action, and achieve your goals. 

Emotional quotient is important for:

• Knowing how to tune into yourself and other people. 
• Building harmonious and fulfilling relationships.
• Succeeding in the workplace.
• Managing stress and handling emotions.
• Personal growth.
• Communication and social skills.
• Improving your mental and physical health. 
• Balancing your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
• Being a good parent and partner.

We all have unique personalities, desires, and ways of expressing emotions. Navigating through all that requires tact and skill—qualities that emotional intelligence can help you develop to not just succeed, but thrive in life.

The 5 Domains of Emotional Intelligence

The idea of emotional intelligence (EQ) has been discussed for centuries. However, it was psychologist Daniel Goleman who first popularized the term in 1995. His book, ‘Emotional Intelligence,’ breaks it down into five elements

The 5 main qualities of emotional intelligence include:

• Self-awareness: You know what you’re feeling and how it shapes your thoughts, perceptions, and impulses to act.
• Self-management: When you’re upset, angry, or anxious, you can manage your emotions and keep them from disrupting your focus.
• Social awareness: Practicing empathy, knowing how the other person thinks and feels, but most importantly, caring about them.
• Relationship management: You can handle conflicts, stay calm, communicate well, listen to the other person, and maintain harmony.
• Self-motivation: You can use your emotions as motivation forces to arouse, sustain, and direct activity, regardless of how you feel.

Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

For decades, success was primarily associated with intelligence quotient (IQ), a measure of cognitive abilities like logic, reasoning, and problem-solving. However, researchers have now proven that EQ is twice as important as IQ in determining success in both personal and professional life.

EQ is a combination of social and personal intelligence. It is the ability to recognize your own and others’ feelings and emotions and use that information to guide your thinking and behavior.

The reason EQ is critical is that affective information (sentimental) should be processed differently than cognitive information. It focuses not on memory or judgment but on the link between your emotionality and personality.

Key Differences Between EQ and IQ

• Unlike IQ, which is a pre-determined trait and remains largely fixed throughout our lives, emotional intelligence is learned and learnable at any point in life.
• Your IQ measures your analytical thinking, learning, and memory, while EQ measures your ability to manage, appraise, and express emotions in yourself and others.
• IQ helps you excel academically and complete data-driven tasks, while EQ helps you thrive in leadership roles, group dynamics, and personal relationships.

Both EQ and IQ serve different purposes, but they work best when combined. Your IQ might help you secure the job, but it’s your EQ that will help you stay in control during stress, collaborate with others effectively, and build strong relationships.

How to Become More Emotionally Intelligent? 

Emotional intelligence isn’t an innate trait; it’s a skill that can be developed with consistent effort and practice.

Let’s explore practical steps to help you boost your emotional quotient:

Practice self-awareness

Start by being conscious of your emotions. Observe how they form, notice how you feel in different situations, and understand how those emotions influence your thoughts and actions (consider journaling this). When you’re in tune with your emotions, you can quickly perceive and respond to them and better express those emotions to others.

Understand other people’s emotions

Take time to truly observe and interpret the emotions of those around you. Pay attention to how their feelings affect them and learn to read nonverbal cues like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Understanding others’ emotions will allow you to respond with care and strengthen your relationships. 

Empathise 

Empathy is the ability to comprehend another person’s feelings and re-experience them yourself. Strive to understand other people and their points of view. Show that you genuinely care, take the time to listen, and imagine yourself in their position. Knowing what someone else is feeling will help you have smoother interactions, deepen your connections, and become socially adaptive.

Improve communication skills

People with high emotional intelligence express themselves clearly and listen attentively to show others they value their thoughts. They ask open-ended questions that encourage dialogue, capture key points of information, and try to understand others’ perspectives. They’re easy to talk to, relatable, open-minded, and skilled at adjusting their tone and body language to match the context.

Stay calm under stress

Learn to pause before reacting, especially during stressful moments. Practice deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, and grounding techniques to help you stay calm under pressure. Take responsibility for your feelings and focus on constructive responses that align with your values. By harnessing your emotions effectively, you prevent them from crippling you or getting in the way of what you’re doing.

Seek feedback and learn

Ask trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors for feedback on how you come across emotionally and socially. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth. Emotional intelligence grows through self-awareness and external insights.

Develop a positive mindset

Practice gratitude (acknowledge how blessed you are), reframe challenges as opportunities, and focus on solutions rather than problems. A positive outlook not only improves your emotional well-being but also helps you inspire and connect with others.

Stay Motivated

Develop an internal drive by setting meaningful goals that inspire you. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and reflect on your progress along the way. When you feel unmotivated or face adversity, remind yourself of your “why” and visualize your desired outcomes to stay focused and energized.

Emotional intelligence is not a one-time achievement—it’s a lifelong journey. Regularly evaluate your progress, explore new strategies, and remain curious about how you can continue to grow.

For more ways to increase your EQ, check out our page on 50 tips for improving your emotional intelligence.

Ready to Level Up Your EQ?

Success in life depends not just on your IQ but on your emotions and the ability to understand and manage them—both in yourself and in others. Your emotional quotient is the key to achieving your goals and thriving in every aspect of life.

If you’re ready to elevate your EQ and unlock your full potential, RocheMartin offers the tools and expertise to guide you every step of the way.