The Evolving Human, The Evolving Organisation – Beyond Emotional Intelligence
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) giving way to Emotional Intelligence
Intelligence Quotient is universally recognised as a definitive indicator of a person’s intellectual abilities. But it is also accepted that the IQ tests administered need to be neutral enough with respect to context/ culture/ language. Else they may not really help adjudge. For the better part of the last century, IQ test frameworks have been evolving to be more comprehensive and accommodative.
Over the last few decades, we have had some softer/ lesser quantitative frameworks to better understand indicators for longer term success. Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) and the slightly lesser known Five Factor Model framework try to understand how a person with an average/ slightly above-average IQ could still be (significantly so) more successful in personal and professional lives than a person whose only claim to fame could be a great IQ. It is now almost common knowledge at least in Academia/ HR Circles that ability to work with people, willingness to accept mistakes/ learn afresh (to name a few) are better indicators of success than merely an high IQ.
Limitation/s of Emotional Intelligence
EI as an indicator and as a concomitant of success is not surprising. It is a good framework to instil many desirable qualities. But it is common these days to see white collar crimes without any ‘underlying basic need‘ for it. For eg. burglary is fairly common with the motive to buy food/ medicines.
Whether abroad or closer home in India, white collar criminals commit their offences to pursue objectives which are far less acceptable (in comparison to the small time thief). Surely the Mehul Chokshi/ Nirav Modi s and the Vijay Mallyas were not struggling to make ends meet. Obviously the level of manoeuvering required, to do what they did, does not come easy. IQ alone cannot make it possible. With IQ alone, we may be able to blackmail/ threaten vulnerable/ helpless bank officials. But getting these plans so elaborately made with officials’ connivance needs some amount of EQ ‘flair’.
Enter Ethical Emoting
The inference that stares us in the face in light of the above is that Acting in a Responsible/ Spiritual manner is an absolute must. If workers at the lowest echelons of power and prosperity are expected to be clean, how much more, the onus on those far above them. Unless leaders and managers are able to dovetail this critical parameter into their actions, their flair for EQ or their IQ ability comes to naught…..or to put it slightly differently, behaviours built solely on IQ or EI cannot guarantee Sustainable Success. As Abraham Lincoln said “…..we cannot fool all the people all the time…” There can be no compromise on Emoting ( in the sense of working/ behaving/ acting) Ethically/ Spiritually.
IQ to EI (EQ) to EE (SQ)
In an ideal world, all of us would lead our lives, both personal and professional in an ideal manner. So ideal that it would not be much of a world (as we know it and delight in) in the first place. There would no ego/ sorrow/ deceit/ violence/ mindless competition surely. Ironically, we may also be deprived of the context where satire/ humour/ laughter/ pursuit of excellence/ etc also thrive.
Thus the Journey towards the Ideal is more interesting surely than the destination. Poetically Robert Browning put it in his inimitable style….” ….Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp …Or what’s a Heaven for.” 🙂