Candidates or employees might look great on paper but may not have the Emotional Intelligence (EI) to be a great addition to the team.
71% of hiring managers say EI is more important to hiring & promotion decisions than IQ
59% of hiring managers say they wouldn’t hire someone with a high IQ and low EI
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a general assessment of a person’s abilities to control emotions, to sense, understand and react to others’ emotions, and manage relationships.
The competitive job market allows employers to look more closely at the intangible qualities that pay dividends down the road – like skilled communicators and perceptive team players. Technical competency and intelligence are important assets for every employee, but when it’s down to selection of one versus another for a promotion or new job, dynamic interpersonal skills set one apart from the other.
Employers want people who can effectively make decisions in stressful situations and can empathize with the needs of their colleagues and clients to deliver the best results.
Many companies are forgoing traditional hiring methods and relying more on Emotional intelligence, as opposed to where the person went to school or what grades they received. Hiring managers assess their candidates’ and employees’ EI by observing a variety of behaviors and qualities such as:
· Admitting and learning from mistakes
· Ability to keep emotions in check and have thoughtful discussions on tough issues
· Ability to listen as much or more than they talk
· Taking criticism well
· Showing grace under pressure
Interestingly, 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in pressurized situations in order remain calm and in control. They also stay positive and disconnect to keep things in check.
How employees manage their emotions can make a big a difference in the end. Highly emotionally intelligent people are self-aware and understand when they need to take a step back if things are getting a bit heavy. Those who aren’t emotionally intelligent may blow up and create conflict. This all plays into how they go through tasks, solve issues, and create success.
So, where do you find emotionally intelligent people? Some organizations use behavioral assessments, others look at big data. While these are all great recruitment tactics, emotionally intelligent workers can be also be found at home. That is, from your own employees.
By understanding the true value of an emotionally intelligent employee, you’ll begin to see the connection between the types of people you hire and the success that comes from it.
By Maneesh Ajmani – Horton International Bahrain
