Emotional Intelligence vs Cognitive Intelligence

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Emotional Intelligence Vs Cognitive Intelligence

For decades the intelligence quotient (IQ) has been considered one of the main predictors of an individual’s probability of success in their career. In the 1990s a new branch of psychology was developed which involves using the workers emotional intelligence as another predictor of achievement. This paper argues that emotional intelligence is more important than cognitive intelligence as an influencing factor in success. This will be achieved by outlining the two predictors and then comparing the benefits and leadership styles attributed to each.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is defined as “…the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships” (Goleman 1998, 317). It is important to recognize the hierarchy between the elements of this intelligence concept as each step is required in order to advance to highest level. People must first be able to understand their emotions before managing them, then to progress individuals must be aware of colleague’s emotions before trying to manage them (Mcshane, Steen and Tasa 2015). An individual that has a higher EI has the ability to be aware and sensitive of issues in the office others might not pick up on while also being able to handle the situations ethically. This could be demonstrated at a lower level customer service job in which the ability to handle a customer’s issues with empathy and understanding will set an individual apart from coworkers and prop them up for future advancement. This could also be exhibited in a higher level position where if the leader has a high EI they can ensure the team runs smoothly with little conflict, and therefore generating positive outputs. Since emotions develop in seconds it is very valuable to employ individuals with high EI as they are less likely to act radically and let passion overcome reason (Goleman 2005)....