{"id":822,"date":"2022-09-21T10:12:59","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T10:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hopetrustindia.com\/dev\/?p=822"},"modified":"2022-09-21T10:12:59","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T10:12:59","slug":"high-iq-doesnt-equal-success-focus-on-your-eq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hopetrustindia.com\/dev\/blog\/high-iq-doesnt-equal-success-focus-on-your-eq\/","title":{"rendered":"High IQ Doesn’t Equal Success, Focus on Your EQ.."},"content":{"rendered":"

Our society places a premium on intelligence. While we\u2019re in school, we have it drummed into our heads that book learning and a high IQ are the necessary tools for success. Honors and attention are bestowed on the academic achievers while the majority of the people are relegated to the ever inflating ‘average’ tag. When we finally get out into the real world, it doesn\u2019t take long to notice that being an academic high flyer doesn\u2019t necessarily guarantee a successful or happy life.<\/p>\n

So fine, grades and diplomas don’t guarantee success and we all know other people who weren\u2019t the best students in school but who have found great success in their chosen career and have a wide circle of valued friends and acquaintances. We\u2019ve all met highly intelligent people who have limited social skills. Why is this? Is something else at play?<\/p>\n

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  1. Self-awareness, meaning that you know yourself and understand your emotions. This includes being able to assess your strengths and weaknesses accurately. It also includes having a healthy amount of self-confidence.<\/li>\n
  2. Self-management, meaning you have control of your emotions, act rationally and react to change in a positive manner. This also includes being trustworthy, conscientious, committed and optimistic.<\/li>\n
  3. Social awareness, meaning you have an understanding of the emotions of others and know how to effectively react to these emotions. This includes having empathy and compassion for others, recognizing their unique talents and qualities, and having excellent communication skills. It also includes being comfortable in many types of social situations.<\/li>\n
  4. Relationship management, which is the ability to maintain all types of relationships, to avoid unnecessary conflict, and to work through conflict successfully when it does arise. This includes building a sphere of influence and taking leadership when needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When we\u2019re lacking in these competencies, we can end up feeling unsure of ourselves and out of control. If you let emotions that you don\u2019t understand dictate your actions, you may end up feeling like a boat that\u2019s been set adrift in stormy seas. Only by learning to understand and control your emotions can you become the pilot of your life and steer your way to calmer waters.<\/p>\n

    Letting your emotions control you can have other negative impacts on your life. It\u2019s hard to be open to other people when you\u2019re emotionally stressed, so relationships suffer. Being on an emotional roller coaster over a long period can lead to physical problems like hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Out of control emotions can also cause depression and severe anxiety. A high EQ level is therefore an important component of good health.<\/p>\n

    How can you raise your EQ? A person\u2019s EQ level is determined by many factors including genetic makeup and childhood experiences. We can change how we react to our emotions, but like all transformational changes it requires more than just the desire to change. We may understand on an intellectual level what needs to be done, but gaining mastery over emotions requires practice and interaction with others.<\/p>\n

    Psychologist Jeanne Segal, author of The Language of Emotional Intelligence<\/em>, describes some key skills that can help increase emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n