Emotional Intelligence A Different Kind of Smart Hult Blog

By Anna Svedberg an intern with Hult Labs. Currently pursuing a Masters in International Business at Hult International Business School. â€Å"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.† Lao Tzu You are on the freeway on your way to work, it’s a beautiful day; you even cheer along to Ke$ha’s new beat, when suddenly another car cuts dangerously close, narrowly avoiding crashing into you. All of a sudden your day is ruined and all you can think is: â€Å"That son of a†¦Who the h*ll does he think he is? Seriously, OMG, I could have died! He won’t get away with this!† On top of that, the cars behind you start honking angrily, to protest that you have slowed down. What a way to start the day! The ability to control your anger in a situation where you feel you’ve been wronged certainly isn’t easy (trust me, I’ve been there). As Aristotle once said, â€Å"Anyone can become angry that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way that is not easy.† Obviously, getting angry with a person who cuts you off certainly isn’t going to improve your day for the better. Yet, there’s that emotion inside of you that you just can’t seem to control. And it’s not just with anger sometimes there are other emotions that seem to spin out of control. The ability to perceive and control your emotions is Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and the ability to self-regulate your emotions is a critical element of EQ. In his Harvard Business Review article, What Makes a Leader, Daniel Goleman claims that self-regulation matters to a great extent for leaders. Why? People who can manage their emotions and impulses have a strong capacity for being reasonable, have the ability to establish an environment of trust and fairness where productivity is high, talented people are encouraged and want to stay, and politics are minimal. But it’s not just important for leaders: the ability to control your emotions is also an important trait in today’s business world where change is constant. Because instead of panicking when a new program is introduced, or a department has been reshuffled, you’ve got to be able to adapt and move with, not against, all kinds of change. In her blog post, Unlock Your Emotional Genius, Susan Krauss Whitbourne states that according to current leadership theories, great leaders are those who show transformative qualities. Such qualities include the ability to promote creativity and innovation, develop a supportive environment for their workers, communicate ambitious goals to their workers, and possess charisma. What makes this possible? Well, many things, but EQ is a key ingredient. And if you desire to become a transformative leader who inspires other people with your vision of change and the future, you’d do well to learn more about EQ and maybe take Whitbourne’s advice and unlock it. EQ has also become an important trait for potential hires. In 2011, a national survey was conducted with more than 2600 hiring managers and human resource professionals. They indicated that EQ is a critical characteristic for landing a job and advancing in one’s career. 34 percent of managers said they are placing greater emphasis on EQ when hiring and promoting employees post-recession, 71 percent said they value EQ in an employee more than IQ. And, 59 percent of employers would not hire someone who has high IQ, but low EQ. This makes a lot of sense though, if you think about it. Whom would you rather work with: the genius who seems unexpressive, detached, arrogant and critical, or a seemingly average Joe or Jane who is outgoing, responsible, ethical, and shows commitment? I would go with the latter one. A high level of EQ can also enhance your ability to excel but it’s also important to take a trusted assessment to know where you currently stand. In his celebrated book, Emotional Intelligence, Goleman claims that what makes those at the very top of their professional careers different from those of approximately the same ability, but in lower level positions, is the extent to which they are able to follow a demanding practice routine for several years. In other words, determined practice makes one, well, maybe not perfect, but makes one better, if not an expert in a specific area. That â€Å"doggedness depends on emotional traits enthusiasm and persistence in the face of setbacks above all else.† This is something my dad always encouraged. He used to tell me that â€Å"academics should take on the same approach as athletes; practice, work hard, and stay focused and you will become your best.† It’s not easy, but it is good to know that hard work over ti me can eventually pay off. Goleman exemplifies this in his book by stating that â€Å"studies of Olympic athletes, world-class musicians, and chess grand masters find their unifying trait is the ability to motivate themselves to pursue relentless training routines.† And then there’s this: â€Å"at the 1992 Olympics, twelve-year-old members of the Chinese diving team had put in as many total lifetime practice dives as had members of the American team in their early twenties.† Who do you think did better in the competition? This goes well in hand with psychologist Angela Duckworth’s opinion that learning should be viewed from a motivational perspective. In her inspiring TED Talk, â€Å"The Key to Success? Grit†, Duckworth shares her experience studying people in very different, and challenging, contexts from kids in national spelling bees; to cadets at a military academy to see who was successful and why. She discovered that grit passion and perseverance for very long-term goals was the one significant predictor for success. It is about endurance and the motivation to stick with your future, day in and day out. So does that mean that EQ can be learned or improved? Absolutely. However, Goleman claims it is crucial that training is focused on the right part of the brain. EQ is largely developed in the part known as â€Å"the limbic system†, which controls feelings, impulses, and drives. Research shows that the limbic system learns best through motivation, extended practice, and feedback. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that building EQ requires genuine desire and rigorous effort. Remember those Chinese divers? And just to be clear, IQ and EQ are not opposing, but rather separate competencies. And keep this in mind: it’s not enough to manage with your intellect, but you must also manage with your heart. As Goleman so nicely puts it: if your emotional abilities arent in hand, if you dont have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you cant have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far. Somehow, this will help me navigate with a tiny bit more calm the next time I’m out driving. Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog What’s your E.Q.? Five sure signs that say you’ve got high emotional intelligence, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .