Thursday, July 27, 2017

Expert Series: Is EQ more important than IQ? Part 2 of 4

How can you help your employees achieve greatness?

So you’re not yet a manager but have goals and aspirations to get there. You know that you’re more than qualified for the job as you possess all the necessary skills and experience listed on the job posting. Is that enough?

You ask yourself the age-old question of what makes for a great employee? Is it your skill sets? Is it the amount of experience that you bring to the table? Could it be demonstrated success in one area that can be transferable into another? Or perhaps it’s a combination of the above with other document examples of achievement?

 

The answer is that although an employee’s IQ is integral to their success, an employee’s Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be just as important, if not more so, for fulfillment within, or potentially beyond, their current role. Dr. Steven Stein of MHS Inc., who has conducted extensive research on the topic of EI said “What we find is that people with a higher level of Emotional Intelligence tend to perform better at work. We find that they succeed in a number of different ways. First of all, they tend to be better team players, they’re also better at adjusting to change…they’re more self-aware.”

To add context to the above, let’s look at Ottawa Hospital’s Leadership Academy. The academy recognized how important it was to incorporate EQ learnings into its program and began doing so by implementing the EQ-i 2.0 assessment to promote and enhance self-awareness and other essential leadership skills. Emotional Intelligence development is viewed as an integral element of professional development by the hospital, which focuses on EI coaching for people leaders, physicians, and support staff. Hospital staff faces unique challenges every day in providing patient services while managing typical workplace situations and stressors.

Did you know that one study found that a physician’s Happiness scores on the EQ-i 2.0 impacted a patient’s satisfaction with the care they received? (Stein, 2011) This isn’t just limited to the medical profession. Have you ever found that your mood affects those that work closely with you on a daily basis? That’s why it’s important to recognize an employee’s EI capabilities in order to allow them to cope with the demands of their day-to-day responsibilities.

Although doctors are experts in their fields, they sometimes lack communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills, (often called bedside manner), necessary to become better leaders and provide patient-focused healthcare. There has been an increased importance placed on the intrapersonal skills that may help doctors deal with the competing demands of their high-stress working environments.

It’s important to realize the significance that EQ plays in your life as you attempt to find a professional calling. No matter what type of job you have, or aspire towards, your Emotional will shape your successes.

To read more about our Workplace Report visit here.

Now that we’ve talked a great deal about a person’s path to workplace and leadership success, the next installment of the expert series will show you how important it is for individuals to work together as part of a team to truly succeed.

About MHS:

MHS aligns extensive scientific research and powerful data with innovative technologies to create, market, and sell leading assessments that help inform critical decisions in the areas of mental health, education, talent development, and public safety. Trusted to help users accurately assess, evaluate, and improve performance in over 75 countries, MHS assessments help people around the world reach their full potential.

Founded in 1983, MHS is a growing company, powered by an exceptional team of passionate, innovative, and driven professionals dedicated to researching, programming, designing, and promoting high-quality assessments and solutions that make a difference.

Find out more here >>> MHS Inc <<<

The Expert Series is brought to you by choice Magazine as part of our ongoing efforts to bring opportunities for learning and growth to the coaching community. Delivered in four parts every two weeks, each series covers useful topics for business development and coaching insights, serving the needs of leaders in all areas and walks of life. Archived copies of the previous series can be found here.