Role of Emotional Intelligence in Professional Success

Introduction

It should come as no surprise that intelligent people do better in business. Successful people know a great deal about their field of expertise and their job, and the roles of those around them, but it has become clear that to truly succeed, you need more than just the standard intellect. The world has become increasingly aware of a type of intelligence that was previously neglected: emotional intelligence.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is not only being able to identify and adapt to your own emotional state but also the emotions of those around you. An emotionally intelligent individual is a strong communicator who can “read the room” and adapt to a variety of social situations. Multiple studies have shown that emotionally intelligent people achieve more than their emotionally underdeveloped counterparts in a multitude of ways. Emotional intelligence involves empathy, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills that contribute significantly to professional environments.

Research on Emotional Intelligence

A 2014 study conducted by the University of Bonn in Germany set out to find how high emotional intelligence affected an individual. The study concluded that emotionally perceptive people were viewed more favorably by others and were also more likely to have a higher income than coworkers that were lacking a developed emotional skillset (Kretschmer, 2014). The study was conducted on 142 adults who were asked to identify emotions both through visual and audio cues. Participants were presented with photographs of people and audio of a variety of people expressing their emotions. A high emotional intelligence was defined as being able to correctly identify 87% of the emotional scenarios, while a low intelligence was defined as scoring 60% or less.

Impact on Professional Success

The participants were evaluated by their coworkers and supervisors to see how their communication skills were viewed by their peers. The results showed that those with a high-ranking emotional intelligence were seen as carrying a higher social status than those who scored low on emotional intelligence (Kretschmer, 2014). Regardless of what business you’re in, communication with colleagues and clients plays a huge role, and that is why emotional intelligence is so valuable. Although the value of emotional intelligence is abundantly clear today, that was not always the case. Travis Bradberry, one of the authors responsible for Emotional Intelligence 2.0, says that emotional intelligence was never considered a factor in business until 1995. His book goes over decades of research to show just what an impact emotional know-how has on the business world (Bradberry, 2009).

Developing Emotional Intelligence

If you feel like you currently lack emotional intelligence, then you might be a little worried right now. Don’t be – emotional intelligence is a learned skill and can be improved. The basis of this form of intellect relies on synthesizing information from both the rational and emotional areas of your brain. The more you practice emotional intelligence, the stronger that skill will become. It's essential to engage in active self-reflection and mindfulness practices to enhance your emotional intelligence over time.

Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence

“The change is gradual, as your brain cells develop new connections to speed the efficiency of new skills acquired. Using strategies to increase your emotional intelligence allows the billions of microscopic neurons lining the road between the rational and emotional centers of your brain to branch off small “arms” to reach out to other cells,” explains Bradberry (Bradberry, 2009). Each cell in your brain can develop 15,000 connections which means even the best of us have lots of room to improve. As you continue to refine your emotional intelligence, you’ll find that it gets easier and even automatic at times. When acting with emotional intelligence becomes second nature, you just might find that success comes to you a little more naturally as well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while traditional intelligence is important, the ability to understand and manage emotions in oneself and others is crucial for professional success. Emotional intelligence enhances communication, decision-making, and leadership abilities, making it an indispensable skill in today's business world.

References

Bradberry, T. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.

Kretschmer, M. (2014). Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Professional Success. University of Bonn.