What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence, also called emotional quotient (EQ), is the ability to recognize, understand and manage one’s emotions and those of others. A high emotional quotient is typically a strong indicator of high workplace performance.

To better understand the ability, consider four key emotional intelligence skills that may contribute to a high EQ:

• Self-awareness: Self-awareness lets employees assess and recognize their emotions, particularly as they relate to the environment. Individuals with excellent self-awareness use their understanding of their emotions to guide their actions and decisions.

• Self-management: Self-management involves emotional regulation, particularly during challenging situations. Those who can effectively manage their emotions often project a calm and positive persona.

• Social awareness: Social awareness involves recognizing and understanding how others feel. Socially aware professionals can often adjust their behaviors in response to the environment. This requires accurately identifying others’ emotions and practicing empathy to communicate effectively.

• Relationship management: Relationship management is the ability to develop positive connections with others. Successfully managing relationships involves addressing conflicts respectfully and maintaining an inclusive workplace.

Emotional intelligence examples

To identify emotional intelligence, consider the following examples:

• Actively listening by summarizing information and setting aside distractions

• Offering personal or professional support to a colleague

• Accepting criticism with openness and making improvements

• Addressing conflict directly to find actionable solutions

• Speaking to others respectfully

• Responding positively to projects and opportunities for growth

Why is emotional intelligence in the workplace important?

Various researchers have found that high emotional intelligence can have numerous benefits, including:

• Improved relationships between colleagues

• Reduced conflict

• Enhanced stress management

• Stronger work performance

• Higher job satisfaction

Employees with high emotional intelligence are more likely to create strong and capable teams, avoid conflict and demonstrate productivity. This can create an enjoyable work environment, potentially increasing employee engagement and reducing turnover.

Prioritizing emotional intelligence can also lead to other benefits that accompany skills-first hiring. Focusing on this ability during the hiring process may expand your talent pool and shorten your time-to-hire, helping you find professionals who can succeed in their roles.

Hiring for emotional intelligence

Building an emotionally intelligent workforce starts with recruitment. Incorporating an emotional intelligence assessment into your hiring process can help you highlight candidates who possess this valuable skill. Here are five steps to consider implementing as you hire.

1. Provide a self-assessment

Self-assessments, which involve the candidate rating their behaviors and responses, are useful because you can compare their answers to their actual emotional responses during the interview.

2. Conduct emotional reference checks

When performing routine reference checks, consider asking the reference several questions about the candidate’s emotional intelligence, such as:

• Did the candidate collaborate well with their colleagues?

• Was the candidate able to regulate their emotions?

You might compare this information to the candidate’s self-assessment. If the reference speaks positively of the candidate’s EQ, they can likely back up the skills they highlight on paper.

3. Administer a skills test

Administering a written skills test during an interview can help gauge emotional intelligence. This test asks the test taker to respond to hypothetical situations and answer questions.

4. Ask pertinent questions

During the job interview, ask questions specifically designed to give you insight into the candidate’s emotional intelligence. Consider relating these questions directly to the open position to evaluate whether they’re suited for the job.

Teamwork interview questions may be particularly useful, as they can help you assess a candidate’s understanding of others’ emotions.

5. Provide situational examples

Alongside interview questions, provide situational examples for the candidate to solve during the job interview. Use examples they might encounter in their position, such as mediating conflict between peers, building rapport on a team or problem-solving.

For example, you can describe an interpersonal conflict and ask each candidate how they would respond, or present a challenge your team has faced and ask candidates how they would approach the situation.

Interview questions related to emotional intelligence

Consider these interview questions and explanations related to emotional intelligence when preparing to interview candidates.

Describe an opportunity for improvement when you worked on a project.

This question should tell you whether a candidate can take responsibility for their actions and identify their emotions during the project. People with high emotional intelligence can often recognize areas for improvement.

Tell me about a time you had to problem-solve with a colleague.

Most candidates can remember a time they disagreed with a peer or wanted to take a project in a different direction. An emotionally intelligent person can typically identify their emotions and those of the other party and explain how they found a resolution.

Explain what motivates you at work.

While passion doesn’t directly translate to emotional intelligence, the ability to express interests and connect them to your company can demonstrate this skill. For example, a candidate may say they appreciate independence and having the authority to implement change. If your company has a flat organizational structure, this answer could show they were intentional when applying, a decision that might indicate emotional intelligence.

FAQs about emotional intelligence and the workplace

How can I measure my team’s emotional intelligence?

You can measure the emotional intelligence of your existing team by observing how your employees interact with each other and clients.

For bigger teams, you might conduct performance reviews to assess emotional intelligence. In particular, 360-degree reviews can provide a well-rounded picture of each individual by revealing how they approach projects and maintain workplace relationships.

Are there ways to improve emotional intelligence among existing employees?

Yes, it’s possible for your current team to boost their EQ. Expressing the importance of the skill can raise awareness and encourage employees to initiate their own methods of improvement. Consider offering professional development opportunities.

Promoting a healthy work-life balance can also improve empathy and strengthen interpersonal relationships.

Related: 3 Fun Ways to Promote Culture at Work

How can I strengthen my emotional intelligence?

Being aware of your emotions and the reasoning behind your feelings is the first step toward strengthening your emotional intelligence. Keeping a journal and regularly reflecting on your feelings and how they affect your performance can help you strengthen this skill. You can also collect feedback from employees to identify and remedy leadership gaps.