The Importance of EQ and EQ Self-Assessment
Emotional Intelligence
A Key to Career Success and Leadership Effectiveness
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) refers to the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively in oneself and others. EQ is recognized as a critical competency that influences personal and professional success—especially in leadership and high-performance environments.
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence encompasses five core components (Goleman, 1998):
Self-awareness – recognizing one’s emotions and their impact.
Self-regulation – managing disruptive emotions and impulses.
Motivation – harnessing emotions to pursue goals.
Empathy – understanding others’ emotions.
Social skills – managing relationships effectively.
what the research says
Why is emotional intelligence important?
Emotional Intelligence and Career Success
Research consistently links emotional intelligence to job performance, advancement, and satisfaction.
- A study by TalentSmart found that 90% of top performers score high in emotional intelligence, while only 20% of bottom performers do (Bradberry & Greaves, 2009).
- EQ is responsible for 58% of job performance, across all types of jobs (Bradberry & Greaves, 2009).
- Professionals with high EQ earn on average $29,000 more annually than their lower-EQ peers (Forbes, 2021).
- In high-demand fields, EQ supports adaptability, stress tolerance, and collaborative work—skills essential for thriving in dynamic workplaces.
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
For leaders, emotional intelligence is a predictor of influence, team performance, and organizational culture.
- Leaders with high EI create more psychological safety in teams, enhancing trust and innovation (Harvard Business Review, 2017).
- Emotional intelligence accounts for nearly 90% of what sets high performers apart from peers with similar technical skills (Goleman, 1998).
- Organizations with emotionally intelligent leaders see higher levels of employee engagement, retention, and productivity (Cherniss, 2010).
A leader’s ability to empathize, regulate stress, and build strong interpersonal relationships often defines their effectiveness more than technical expertise.
How is my emotional intelligence?
Do you know where your emotional intelligence stands? It’s hard to know where you can grow if you don’t have an idea of your current skills. Take the self-assessment quiz and discover your strengths and opportunities for developing your emotional intelligence.
Think EQ is a waste of time? Oftentimes, those who believe EQ is unimportant tend to score the lowest and experience significantly more struggles in their relationships and careers. If you find it difficult to manage others, command respect from peers or board members, or struggle in navigating life’s demands, it may be time to examine your own emotional intelligence skillset.
Take the EQ Self Assessment below and find out.
