How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?
~by Heather Strohm
Regional Extension Educator, Community Development – Purdue University
As you reflect on 2020 and embark on 2021, consider how you relate to others. How often have you judged an experience or a situation only to arrive at the wrong conclusion or to learn that your opinion was way off? I would make a wager that has happened to you at some point or another throughout your life.
Maybe it’s time to ask yourself: What’s my EIQ? If you don’t already know what that means, EIQ stands for Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EIG). A higher level of emotional intelligence permits us to set our opinions and differences aside while we listen, research and review the situation. In a sense, it helps us open our eyes to the possibilities around us. Focusing on your emotional intelligence is a great way to continue to learn and grow. How well do you perceive the thoughts and feelings of those around you?
One way to find out is to take a test. Harvard’s Extension School suggests these three free tools for assessing your emotional intelligence:
Psychology Today’s online test (completion time = 45 minutes): https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/personality/emotional-intelligence-test
The Mind Tools test is quick and easy—and gives you a baseline understanding of your EI (completion time = 15 minutes): https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ei-quiz.htm
The Institute for Health and Human Potential is a research company dedicated to helping organizations leverage the science of emotional intelligence. Here’s their test: https://www.ihhp.com/free-eq-quiz/
Another free, fun and quick quiz (from the Greater Good Magazine) focuses on how well you read other people: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/ei_quiz
While IQ is important, researchers like Daniel Goleman (author of Emotional Intelligence, who popularized the concept) and others like Peter Salovey, John Meyer, Howard Gardner, Robert Sternberg and Jack Block found that people with high emotional intelligence tend to be more successful in life than those with lower EIQ even if their classical IQ is average. So, increasing your EIQ can positively affect your company’s bottom line—and yours.
As you consider 2020 and how we can all be better in 2021, please consider what steps you can take to increase your emotional intelligence. A little personal investment can pay endless dividends in business development—not only within your company but also within the community you serve.
