SMART is not enough
SMART is not enough“Can nobody around here think?” said the frustrated executive slamming her hand on the desk.
We all expect our colleagues, our associates and our clients to behave in an intelligent manner. After all, intelligence is a key ingredient in business. That is why some organisations use IQ tests to assess the suitability of potential employees. However is that enough?
Since the 1920’s, a growing number of psychologists claim that there is more to success than just the type of intelligence measured in an IQ test. A new concept of intelligence began to emerge in the 70’s and 80’s – Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence can best be understood as having two parts to it.
- The first part is the ability to know and manage yourself – Intrapersonal Intelligence, as it’s sometimes called.
- The second part is the ability to understand others and manage productive relationships with them – Interpersonal Intelligence, as it’s sometimes called.
Within the sphere of knowing and managing yourself, some of the key components are as follows:
Self Appraisal is about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. This is even more important in the challenging times we face. Those who know about their inner untapped abilities can now use them appropriately to make the most out of the current economic situation.
Emotional self-awareness is about knowing how you feel at any given moment in time. Have you ever finished off a bag of chocolates, without realising it, just because you were too stressed? Have you ever been told to calm down, and you screamed back “But I am not angry”. People are not always aware of their emotions and that makes self control very difficult. Controlling your frustration as it sets in, is much easier than controlling it when it has reached a peak.
Objectivity is about seeing things as they really are. In my slightly younger days, I used to think that Hugh Grant was God’s gift to mankind, but my friends had a differing opinion. Objectivity is the ability to understand that there are different perspectives regarding reality and assess the extent to which we hold the real picture of a situation.
Impulse control is the ability to control emotions and actions that we may later regret.. It’s the ability to refuse desert when you are on a diet.
Self Reliance is the confidence to make your own decisions without relying on other people’s psychological approval. If you are going out at night, do you ask your friends what they are going to wear, do you seek their opinion on what you want to wear, or are you confident you can make the right choice?
Adaptability is the ability to change your thoughts, emotions and behaviours in different situations, so that you adopt the most appropriate behaviour given the circumstances. For example in today’s changing environment we may be stretched to tackle responsibilities we have not had before. How well can we cope with such changes?
Self-motivation is the ability to see the bright side of life, have the confidence that we can make the most out of any situation, and to have the drive to get on and achieve this. It’s also coupled with a sense of contentment, a joy of what someone already has in life. When we appreciate what we have that gives us the positive outlook to find more in life.
Within the sphere of managing productive relationships, some of the key components are as follows:
Empathy is the ability to read those small signals such as a sigh, a slanting of the head, or eyes looking away. It is about understanding how others feel, and understanding and accepting other people’s feelings. A phrase like “how dare he not be satisfied with what we gave him” clearly shows that there is no understanding of why that person feels the way he does. Empathy requires advanced listening skills where we can focus our attention on the speaker’s words, voice and body language. Most people just focus on what they themselves want to say.
Interpersonal relations is the ability to build close relationships. People who have good Interpersonal relations are fun to be with and are an inspiration to others. Therefore they grow their network fast and wide.
These are the foundation skills that fuel today’s complex, knowledge economies. To produce wealth, professionals need to work closely together and take on leadership roles. Emotional Intelligence is vital.