With every other task being automated by the day, one must possess skills that robots cannot replicate in the near future: the way one handles a pressurising situation, how one communicates with other human beings or provides creative ideas that can make their company grow. A computer can crunch numbers faster than people, but can never lead a team. In fact, corporations are now looking for people with emotional intelligence to join as professionals rather than ones with high levels of intelligence quotient.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

In simple words, being emotionally intelligent means being aware of one’s feelings and how they affect their work environment. When one’s emotional quotient is high, one can recognise their mood, control their impulses and develop a sense of internal motivation to help them excel. They also understand and tend to empathise with other people’s feelings and reactions and manage professional relationships better. The over all effect is – high EQ makes one the employee of the hour as they are driven to get the work done with minimal external motivation.

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How do you develop Emotional Intelligence?

It can be developed by working on one’s social skills. For instance, if one enrolls themselves into one of the top mass communication courses after their 10+2, understanding human relations will be one of their primary focuses. If one uses their knowledge to discover their inner strengths and weaknesses, they start developing emotional intelligence. Along with one’s academic subjects, they must find time to work on their social skills, improve on how they communicate and enhance their ability to help others grow.

Why is it important for working professionals?

To break down the necessity of emotional quotient even further, here is a list of few skills that one inherently develops, which hiring managers will always value. These will make one the cream in the crowd and really help them stand out.

One is self-motivated: The firm does not have to go to extra lengths to get a job done by them. Studies have shown that bonuses and incentives can only motivate up to a certain limit, and are not effective ways to increase productivity. Emotionally intelligent people, on the other hand, work for personal development and function better. For instance, if one is fresh out of a journalism course after 10+2, and they had taken up the subject due to personal liking, they are proficient to deal with challenges and least likely to give up.

One becomes an asset to the company: Self-driven people have the tendency to help others grow and this helps the whole company. As a leader, one can better understand the team members and help them to gel with each other. They are goal oriented, more focused and work with minimum micromanagement. As a member, one is capable of boosting the morals of the whole team and any manager will understand their value. The company will be naturally willing to give them more responsibility and their professional development rate will see new heights.

High EQ keeps one stress-free: When one is aware of their feelings and goals, they tend to go through less stress. One perfectly understands a situation and knows how to act during a crisis. Less stress increases productivity and one naturally stand out as the employee with the best potential. They remain healthier and fitter and all these do act together to enhance their professional career as a whole. They use their skills to the maximum extent and understand when to quit and start over.

One knows how to manage their emotions: It is the one thing that companies value. Experts believe that most of the wrong decisions are made during an emotional outburst, both positive and negative. One can hire the wrong person while being elated or fire the right person in a fit of rage. Emotional intelligence gives one control over their feelings and they are capable of making professional decisions. They become tolerable in the company environment and others feel comfortable around them.

One is more flexible: Any job after the best mass media courses after 10+2 may involve odd hours and substantial pressure. While most may complain about the issue, people with high emotional quotient will weigh the opportunities on offer. They become flexible and are well aware of the purpose. They can accept a situation or evaluate a new idea. Their response to change is way better which will make them a professional that firms want.

So, get started right away! Work on your emotional intelligence. Unlike Intelligence Quotient, Emotional Quotient is something that you can work upon and it is indeed what managers will look for in the near future. Emotional intelligence will help your work life, personal life and everything that surrounds it.

[The writer is senior director, Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Noida]