Emotional intelligence or EQ, is that little extra in each of us that is intangible. EQ affects how we navigate social complexities, manage behaviour, and make personal choices that achieve positive results. Studies show that people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70% of the time.

For managers, being aware of what emotional intelligence is and how it is used in everyday life is of the utmost importance. EQ is made up of two primary competencies: social competence and personal competence. It is incredibly important for managers and senior members of staff to be aware of how these competencies apply to their jobs.

Social competence is made up of your social awareness and relationship management skills. It is your ability to understand other people’s behaviour, motives and moods in order to respond effectively and improve the quality of your relationships. Personal competence comprises your self-management skills and self-awareness, which focus on you individually rather than on your interactions with other people.

Combining both personal and social competence is detrimental for managers, if you cannot manage yourself, how can you manage others? It is therefore of the utmost importance that managers learn to develop their EQ skills in order to best serve their team.

Here’s a fascinating infographic from the Brighton School of Business and Management, that looks at why you might want to develop emotional intelligence as part of your own career capital:

Emotional-Intelligence-and-your-career-Infographic

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