Emotional intelligence is more than trending these days. The soft skill has come onto the radar of HR professionals everywhere, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Emotional intelligence, or EI, has become the most sought-after job skill in any field—and is especially crucial in IT and tech fields.
School affiliation, grades, extracurricular activities have become passé in light of the growing focus on emotional intelligence. Hard skills such as tech savvy are no longer the only mark of competency among professionals. A growing number of studies show that EI is the key to success in nearly any endeavor.
With all its rising stardom, you may be wondering: what exactly is Emotional Intelligence?
What is EI?
Emotional Intelligence is a broad term that involves a number of factors, such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—and are the winning traits that mark the best leaders.
Why does EI matter?
1. People with EI don't get bent out of shape
Like it or not, pressure and stress are a given in most workplaces. People who possess a high EI can gauge their internal processes, and manage themselves accordingly. But rather than removing themselves from conflict and undesirable situations, they understand how to approach them in healthy ways—and head on.
Ninety percent of top performers know how to remain calm in trying situations.
2. People with EI work well with others
Because they can better empathize with their teammates and underlings, they’re able to work cooperatively, regardless of differences. They understand how to navigate the complexities of
human interactions, and build diverse relationships that achieve the bottom line.
3. People with EI take constructive criticisms
Defensiveness takes a back seat to accepting and implementing feedback from others. Those who possess a high emotional aptitude are eager to improve themselves to be the most effective version of themselves possible.
4. They have good judgement in decision-making
When it comes to making decisions, they might take some time to think things through, but ultimately, they end up making wise and fair decisions. Emotional intelligence enables them to understand the trickle effect of decisions, and how they can affect others. Thus, by gauging outcomes, though they may be apt to move slowly, they’ll be decisive when they do.
As the tech job landscape opens up to thousands of new jobs in trending and evolving fields, having hard skills will certainly give you a boost. But before you rely too heavily on your credentials, focus on developing and conveying your Emotional Intelligence for the win.
