Are You Smarter Than Sheldon Cooper?

I’m not crazy. My mother did have me tested. Sheldon Cooper, (Big Bang Theory.)  Emotional intelligence quotient is far more important than intelligence quotient.

Let’s rewind a little bit.

Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ,) is not an imaginary term but an actual reference to your ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It determines how you manage behavior, navigate social complexities and make personal decisions to achieve positive results. To break it down IQ is our ability to learn while EQ is our ability to connect with our surroundings. If your IQ gets you hired, your EQ will either get you promoted or fired.

But what does emotional intelligence have anything to Sheldon Cooper or entrepreneurs? A whole lot. For starters, Sheldon Cooper is probably the best example to explain why one shouldn’t be lacking in the emotional quotient even if you have multiple Ph.D.s when you are just 15 years old. Being emotionally active impacts your professional success as it is the foundation for a host of critical social skills that impact almost everything you do and say each day. Many psychologists and researchers believe a person’s emotional intelligence quotient may be more important to success than the person’s IQ.

How exactly will being emotionally intelligent help an entrepreneur?
While a higher IQ will allow you to grasp more concepts and produce better products, emotional intelligence will bring a better understanding of the needs, feelings, and overall situation of others. A better understanding of the needs of the people will allow you to create a better product or service to fit the needs of their target customer. It will also allow you to become a better leader, someone people will want to follow. What’s more is that any emotionally intelligent person will be far easier to work with and not run the risk of losing clients or alienating those you work with because of your behavior. If given the choice who would you rather work with for an important project? Sheldon Cooper or Leonard Hofstadter?

Before you answer that, let’s take a look at a couple of more examples. Warren Buffet needs no introduction. Even he agrees that once you have ordinary intelligence what you need is the temperament to control the urges that get other people into trouble. Not good enough? Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, with his quirky laugh and self deprecating style, is obsessed with the hearts and minds of his customers and his long term perspective on relationships are legendary. Indra Nooyi’s “performance with purpose“ agenda has helped move employees from having a job to living a calling.

To become the next big name in the industry of your choosing increase the communication between your emotional self and your rational self. No one is born this way and no one wakes up like this, all fabulous. Psychologist Daniel Goleman, claims we are all a work in progress, therefore how you react to situations and how you train your mind depends solely on you.

Let’s take a look at a few advantages of training yourself to become emotionally intelligent. First, you’re in control of your own emotions, thereby in control of the situation. Secondly, being aware of the needs of the people around you become aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore one avoid all sorts of conflicts, or at least resolve them peacefully. You can offer the best possible product to your customers that better solve the pain points of your customer base.  Nothing can phase you. You are the master of your own mind. Inner Peace!

How can you attain emotional intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence stems from the ability to identify and manage your emotions and those of others around you. There’s only one path to take to increase your emotional intelligence quotient. Understand yourself to influence your future decisions and understands others to influence them better. Emotional intelligence lies in the little things. Focus on how you feel, make a conscious effort to observe your emotions and name every feeling. Do the same with your actions and relate them to your feelings and become aware of your surroundings. Slowly widen your horizon and try to notice the emotions of those around you. 

While your emotional intelligence level cannot be measured, it sure can be improved. Work on yourself to work better with everyone else.