When you are stressed and time poor are these projected onto other people? Do you have a good understanding of how your behaviours effect others work and emotional stress? Do you come across as aggressive, defensive and demanding? Are you aware of your negative tone and body language when communicating? Alternatively, are you patient and understanding with colleagues/team and known for your active listening skills? Are you sensitive, direct and to the point and demand a high level of conduct from yourself and your colleagues?
Your introspective self reflection will assist you to determine the level of your emotional IQ (EQ). Why is EQ important, isn’t high IQ enough? Is your level of EQ hurting or helping you professionally?
3 minute read
Is High IQ Enough?
We are all aware of the importance placed on high IQ, demonstrated in admission tests/marks required to study law at universities. Once admitted, high IQ is still highly valued and applauded when entering the job market. We start our employment as lawyers, reading, writing, analysing etc with above average – high IQ, but oftentimes lack the skills required to manage emotions in the heat of the challenging problems lawyers face daily – in the office, at court, with opponents & clients etc.
I am not aware of any reference to, discussion of or any education about EQ or how the skills associated with EQ can assist a lawyer reach their full potential, personally and professionally. Is that because EQ is not important?
Doug Lennik, an Executive Vice President at American Express Financial Advisors once said:
“The aptitudes you need to succeed start with intellectual horsepower – but people need emotional competence, too, to get the full potential of their talents. The reason we don’t get peoples full potential is emotional incompetence.”
Extensive research has been performed in the area of EQ where results have shown that IQ does not determine who succeeds and who fails. IQ has the least power in predicting success among a pool of “smart people“.
If high IQ does not determine success, does expertise?
Robert Sternberg a Yale Psychologist (authority on intelligence and success) tested managers at Fortune 500 companies and found that practical intelligence (common sense plus specialised knowledge) seems to account for at least as much on the job success as does IQ. What else is required?
EQ: Performance & Success
When EQ was first discovered, it served as a “missing link” (i.e. high IQ and expertise aren’t enough for people to reach their full potential of success).
People assumed that the source of success was IQ. After years of research and countless studies, scientists concluded that there must be another variable that explained success above and beyond ones IQ. It was found: EQ is the critical factor. EQ accounts for 58% of performance in all types of jobs. It is the single best predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence.
EQ is the foundation for the majority of important skills, including:
- time management
- decision making
- communication
- flexibility
- empathy
- stress tolerance
- improved team work
In summary, how much impact does EQ have on your success? A lot! It can be your focus, which will yield tremendous results.It doesn’t matter where your EQ score sits today (low – high), EQ can be learned, improved and maximised in order to increase your fulfilment and success, in the true sense of the word.
Stay Updated and Connected
- My article “The Truth About Emotional EQ” was published in the Law Society Journal (November 2015), which discussed emotions and decision making, what is EQ and why EQ brings greater success. If you don’t have access to the LSJ (November 2015) and would like a copy of my article, just email me (louise.mathias@sydneybarrister.net.au) and I will provide you with a copy, via email.
- Book an appointment to talk with me about how I may be able to assist you with a lunch & learn session at your firm on the topic ” The Truth About EQ – How It Can Catapult You To Greater Happiness and Success“
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I appreciate your feedback, questions and other topics of interest at louise.mathias@sydneybarrister.net.au