What Is Your Emotional Intelligence Quotient?

Daniel Goleman, author of the book Emotional Intelligence, says, "If your emotional abilities aren't in hand...you are not going to get very far."

Your emotional intelligence is measured by your emotional quotient.

EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT

Where IQ measures your general intelligence, emotional quotient measures your level of emotional intelligence. In a sense, its an emotional inventory. Emotional quotient is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power of your emotions to build relationship compatibility. It can show you how to improve performance, personally and professionally. EQ also helps you gain awareness and control of your emotions in the workplace.

If you know your EQ, you can better understand how your emotions affect your choices and decisions. A high EQ can help you improve decision making by using your head, not just your heart.

There are five areas of emotional quotient, which fall under two categories - Intrapersonal and Interpersonal.

INTRAPERSONAL EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT - Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, and Motivation

Self-Awareness - the ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others. Take an emotional test by rating yourself in these areas of Self-Awareness:

I rely on my intuition to assist me in my decision-making.

I can name my greatest strengths.

I am usually aware of the way I am feeling.

Self-Regulation - the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods and the ability to suspend judgment and think before acting. Take an emotional test by rating yourself in these areas of Self-Regulation:

I am calm even in tense situations.

I rarely make impulsive decisions.

I am willing to forego immediate gratification when on a budget.

Motivation - a passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status, and the ability to pursue goals with energy and persistence. Take an emotional test by rating yourself in these areas of Motivation:

I seek out innovative ways of getting the job done.

I would continue to work if I won the lottery.

When I know what I want, I go after it.

Your Intrapersonal Emotional Quotient is the ability to understand and form an accurate concept of yourself, and be able to use that concept to operate effectively in life.

INTERPERSONAL EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT - Empathy and Social Skills

Empathy - the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. Take an emotional test by rating yourself in these areas of Empathy:

I can sense someone's true feelings based on their body language.

The emotional tone of an interaction is easy to decipher.

I would make a great therapist.

Social Skills - a proficiency in managing relationships and building networks. Take an emotional test by rating yourself in these areas of Social Skills:

I find it easy to establish common ground with somebody I have just met.

I have a wide circle of acquaintances.

I constantly look for opportunities to build relationships.

Your Interpersonal Emotional Quotient is the ability to understand other people and relate effectively to them; to understand what motivates others, how they work, and how to work cooperatively with them. Improving your EQ score is how to improve social skills.

Having a high emotional quotient can help you build strong relationships, reduce stress, and motivate yourself to get what you want.

In business, a high emotional quotient is how to improve performance. It can help you be more productive, improve decision making, and become a superior performer. You will be, as author Glenn Sheppard says, "the employee your company can't live without."

Daniel Goleman further says, "When I went on to write my next book, 'Working with Emotional Intelligence,' I wanted to make a business case that the best performers were those people strong in these skills."