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Why We Measure Emotional Intelligence

Soft skills are the new hard skills.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage our own emotions and feelings, while showing empathy and compassion for those around us. Leaders can consistently apply emotional intelligence as a means of improving team results, workplace culture, and employee fulfillment by becoming more self-aware. 

According to Daniel Goleman, American psychologist, author and science journalist:

The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It's not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.

At 3fold, we understand that emotional Intelligence is integral to knowing ourselves and those we lead. The Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i 2.0®) and Emotional Quotient 360 (EQ 360®), with their depth of scientific research and global reputations, each give our clients incredibly powerful starting points to understand where leaders are strong and where they can use support in developing their emotional intelligence.   

Without a starting point on which to reflect, coaching and leadership program participants often feel rudderless. Particularly in a coaching relationship, not knowing how or on what to focus can quickly lead to disengagement and frustration. With no clear indication of where to begin, it can take much longer for leaders to uncover the roots of chronic issues — even with an expert coach at their side. 

We empower leaders and their coaches by providing the EQ-i 2.0® as a tangible resource at the outset of our work together. This quick-reference self-assessment tool, with its clear competencies, invites productive vulnerability and helps to build confidence and trust as key parts of a beneficial development conversation. Plus, our clients can return to it as a guide to navigate their program and ongoing leadership development.

 

 EQ-i 2.0® and EQ 360® Assessments 

Our facilitators are trained EQ-i 2.0® and EQ 360® Certified Practitioners. These Assessments clearly and visually provide insight and direction according to five core competencies. Goleman’s research shows that 67 percent of the competencies that drive a leader’s success are emotional intelligence competencies. Focus on the following measures of performance and social-emotional functioning has been proven to be most effective when advancing leadership development. 

  1. Self-Perception: your overall regard for self, emotional self-awareness, and desire to learn while continuing to develop. 

  2. Self-Expression: your ability to express your emotions, be assertive, and work independently. 

  3. Interpersonal: your ability to create and maintain healthy relationships, experience and express empathy for others, and look at your actions through a socially responsible lens. 

  4. Decision-Making: your ability to solve problems, manage your impulses, and see things objectively — especially in times of stress or uncertainty. 

  5. Stress Management: your ability to be flexible, manage stress, and cultivate optimism — all key factors to your well-being. 

 

360 Degrees of Perspective 

For leaders interested in how others perceive their leadership, the EQ 360® provides feedback from various levels of leadership, team members, peers, and direct reports inside an organization. Think of it as a means for key talent — who may not be aware of how others perceive their leadership or communication styles — to process constructive feedback and work through bigger challenges before they become overwhelming constraints.

 

 Recap: Why Use the EQ-i 2.0® and EQ 360® assessments? 

  • Quickly and easily identify substantial areas for development. 

  • Set benchmarks for leaders and coaches to check program progress. 

  • Emotional intelligence is fluid and can be influenced by a leader’s focus and effort. 

  • Empower leaders with the knowledge that anything about anyone’s performance can be modified. 

  • See where internal conflict or limiting beliefs are holding leaders back. 

Next Steps 

To find out more about the EQ-i 2.0® and EQ 360®, or to see a sample report, please contact us for a complimentary consultation.