What is more important for a successful Executive career - Intelligence or good Communication skills? My colleagues and friends often debate and discuss the key factors for success among C-level Executives. Obviously both of these factors are important, but which do you feel is most important in the business world, and why?This is what I replied:
Most research has pointed out that as one interacts more with people, it is emotional intelligence that is more important. The abilities to recognise one's own emotions, managing them, recognising other's emotions and empathising is more important than IQ or plain communication skills.
Intelligence is the basic threshold block for many jobs. For other jobs communication skills are minimum criteria. But to really grow in firms, and to succeed, emotional intelligence is the key differentiator.
Hi Gautam,
ReplyDeleteNice take on debate regarding IQ versus EQ, however i dont think at this point of time any research has shown conclusive evidence regarding the EI and various researchers have taken a different view-point. Further not all components of EI are applicable and there are certainly lot of profiles that may call for higher IQ levels and compromise on the EQ levels. I am not undermining the importance of EQ as I am conducting research on measurement of EQ. Just another point of view. Your blog is ofcourse one of the best ones in India
Regards
Amit
From:
ReplyDelete"The Validity and Utility of Selection Methods in Personnel Psychology:
Practical and Theoretical Implications of 85 Years of Research Findings"
By
Frank L. Schmidt
Department of Management and Organization University of Iowa
John E. Hunter
Department of Psychology Michigan State University
Abstract:
This article summarizes the practical and theoretical implications of 85 years of research in personnel selection. On the basis of meta-analytic findings, this article presents the validity of 19 selection procedures for predicting job performance and training performance and the validity of paired combinations of general mental ability (GMA) and the 18 other selection procedures. Overall, the 3 combinations with the highest multivariate validity and utility for job performance were GMA plus a work sample test (mean validity of .63), GMA plus an integrity test (mean validity of .65), and GMA plus a structured interview (mean validity of .63). A further advantage of the latter 2 combinations is that they can be used for both entry level selection and selection of experienced employees. The practical utility implications of these summary findings are substantial.
It would appear that smarts, a good interview, and seeing some action would be the best measure of likely success.
Hello Gautam
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed stopping by. I'd like to suggest a slightly different grouping.
1. Intellectual intelligence eg IQ
2. Emotional intellgence.
Communication skills can be found within both types of the intelligences that I mention. Verbal and writing skills are part of the intellectual intelligence domain. The ability to read someone else's body language is an aspect of Emotional Intelligence, as is the ability to communicate with empathy. Do feel free to stop by my new EI weblog.
Hello
ReplyDeleteI find your posting on EQ is very interesting discussion -
I present another perspective
All of us have a navigational Map within us -it is like navigatinal map that we usde when we do not know the city we want to use in travel. we don't question the route- we take it for granted similery we do not question our MAP and keep using it. it reflects in the form of perceptions outlooks etc - obviously it is a unique MAP and its limted terretory - then what is an emotionm - it is feed back that tells us the gap between map and outside reality - take example of emotion like anger when our map does not comply with happennings out side we get angry - knowing and being fully aware of the system of MAp and feedback - in the form of emotions is an higher order of emotional intelligence- beinf fully awatre and questioning and modifying the map is tool of EQ -
your blog is really though provoking
V S Sudhaker
hi gautam..
ReplyDeleteinteresting stuff!!
there is enough research to support that eq with all its components is important in all walks of life-probably not in all the professions but there is much more to life than just your profession.but again a basic level of iq is important to understand the importance of this...