Combining IQ with emotional intelligence for success
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 14:48 PM

People with high levels of intelligence have the potential to accomplish great feats, and undoubtedly, many CEOs, innovators and inventors have high IQs. Yet, scoring high on an IQ test does not automatically translate into success in the real world. In fact, research has shown that very smart people can experience failure in social environments if they are unable to successfully relate to the people around them. The ability to relate to others centers around emotional intelligence (EQ). If this type of awareness can be nurtured at an early age and matched to a stellar intellect, people can expect to yield great results in their professional lives.

What is emotional intelligence?
Author and psychologist Daniel Goleman describes emotional intelligence as the way we manage our emotions and how well we manage relationships with people. Characteristics attributed to emotional intelligence include empathy, or how well we can relate to other people's emotions, and self-awareness of transitioning emotional states. Motivation and compassion are also factors involved when gauging our level of emotional intelligence.

A few common misconceptions exist when discussing EQ. Many people believe that it means being nice or having a lazy attitude toward achievement. EQ has less to do with social etiquette and more to do with honestly assessing one's emotional state and personal values in relation to an individual or group. A person with a high EQ might speak bluntly rather than avoid a stressful situation in order to keep their emotional integrity.

How EQ and IQ work together
A naturally high IQ can be a great indicator of success in an academic environment, and research has shown that developing EQ can lead to an augmentation of learning ability. According to Goleman, schools that have integrated EQ programs demonstrate a higher rate of student achievement. A meta-analysis conducted by Roger Weissberg, director of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) at the University of Illinois, Chicago, studied the progress of students in schools that had SEL programs. Participating institutions reported that 50 percent of students experienced significant academic improvement and 38 percent increased their grade-point average.

Goleman believes results like these would be commonplace if all schools had SEL programs because of how the brain works. Although the regions of the brain that control cognitive and emotional intelligence are separate, they work in harmony. Developing behaviors that encourage emotional intelligence qualities, however, takes more time to develop. When these two portions of the brain work in unison and at the same level, greater achievement can be expected. If a person can combine their vast stores of knowledge and advanced critical thinking skills with high levels of empathy and emotional self-awareness, they will become leaders in any field or work environment.