Emotional Intelligence - the magic key to success
In today's workplace, emotional intelligence (EI) is becoming increasingly important. Recent studies show that 71% of employers rate their employees' emotional intelligence higher than their IQ, and as many as 61% of managers worldwide believe that EI will be an essential skill in the coming years.
Date: 10. March 2025
Author: Dorothea Müller-Stassek
Categories: Future Skills, Leadership, Personality, Insights, metaArticle
Emotional intelligence has been the subject of scientific research for many decades. As early as 1997, Daniel Goleman demonstrated the greater importance of EI compared to IQ (intelligence quotient). Goleman claimed that only 15 percent of a manager’s success can be attributed to IQ and technical skills, while 85 percent is based on the manager’s emotional intelligence.
What exactly does EI mean? Adele Lynn defines it as follows: EI is the ability to manage yourself and your relationships with others in such a way that you truly live your intentions. Other experts such as Peter Salovey & John D. Mayer added EI is: “… the ability to observe your own feelings and emotions and those of others, distinguish between them and use this information to guide your thoughts and actions.”
How exactly are emotional intelligence, employee performance and specific behaviors related? There is a cause-and-effect relationship between people’s emotions and behaviors. Managers need to pay particular attention to this issue as they have a real impact on the entire organization.
The five components of EI
Emotional intelligence is made up of five main components and their abilities:
** Self-awareness and self-regulation**: The ability to fully understand oneself and use this knowledge to manage one’s emotions productively.
**Empathy**: The recognition and understanding of other people’s feelings and perspectives.
**Social Skills**: The ability to cultivate genuine interpersonal relationships and communicate effectively[1].
**Personal Influence**: The ability to positively lead and inspire others and oneself.
**Canon of Values**: The ability to bring authenticity to your life and to know and live your values and purpose.
Despite different scientific perspectives on EI, there is a consensus that there is a direct link between EI and business success.
The skills described enable employees to communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts constructively and work more successfully as part of a team.
Good EI leadership skills lead to increased productivity, cost savings and retention, as well as improved quality, personal satisfaction and morale.
Effects on the success of the company
– Improved communication leads to better understanding in teams[3].
– Stronger employee loyalty through appreciation and support[3].
– More effective conflict resolution through empathy and active listening[3].
– Promoting teamwork and better collaboration[3].
How can specific actions and behaviors that promote and strengthen EI among employees be further developed? In addition to a corporate culture that is characterized by diversity, proactive feedback and collaboration, every employee should be sensitized to reflect on their own abilities.
Measuring and developing emotional intelligence
The following steps can be taken to increase your own emotional intelligence:
- Practice self-reflection
- Develop empathy
- Be open to feedback
- Learn stress management techniques
It is worthwhile for companies to invest in EI training, as a high level of emotional intelligence not only increases job satisfaction, but also leads to better business results.
How to link to the Hogan Assessments
The Hogan Assessments offer a scientifically sound method for measuring and developing emotional intelligence:
– The Hogan EI Report is based on the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) and the Hogan Development Survey (HDS)[8].
– It provides an overall score for emotional intelligence as well as scores for six emotional competencies[8].
– The dimensions include awareness, self-control, expression, recognition, influence and empathy[2].
– The report offers insights into likely behaviors as well as advantages and disadvantages for leadership, teamwork and employability[2].
Combining Hogan 360 data with Hogan personality assessment data enables a comparison between the public and private personas to build strategic self-awareness[5].
At a time when interpersonal relationships and team dynamics are becoming increasingly important, emotional intelligence has become a critical success factor. Developing and fostering this skill should therefore be a priority for organizations and individuals to succeed in the modern workplace.
Citations:
[1] EQ. Emotionale Intelligenz von Daniel Goleman und Friedrich Griese | 1. Mai 1997
[2] EQ Difference: A Powerful Plan for Putting Emotional Intelligence to Work Taschenbuch – 6. März 2018 Adele Lynn (Autor)
[3] https://www.ime-seminare.de/blog/emotionale-intelligenz/
[4] https://crestcom.com/de/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/11/DE_Emotionale-Intelligenz_Der-Schl%C3%BCssel-zum-Unternehmenserfolg.pdf
[5] https://peterberryconsultancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/putting-science-into-emotional-intelligence_v7.pdf
[6] https://www.hibob.com/de/guides/emotional-intelligence-training/
[7] https://www.zukunftsinstitut.de/zukunftsthemen/emotionale-intelligenz-am-arbeitsplatz
[8] https://performanceprograms.com/self-assessments/personal-development/hogan-emotional-intelligence/
