Emotions are a powerful force. Neuroscience shows that they deeply influence how you perceive the world, reason, learn, and solve problems. Essentially, how you feel directly shapes your thoughts, which drive your actions—and ultimately define your life.

You can’t control what you’re not aware of

Without the ability to recognize or regulate your emotions, they can easily take control, leading to impulsive reactions that don’t align with your true intentions. This lack of awareness makes it harder to understand your responses and even tougher to manage them.

That’s where emotional intelligence (EQ) comes in. Developing EQ helps you recognize, understand, and regulate your emotions, so you can respond thoughtfully and act with purpose.

EQ and IQ: What’s the difference?

IQ measures your cognitive abilities—skills like analyzing data, solving complex problems, and logical thinking. However, EQ is about recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions—both your own and others.

While IQ helps you tackle technical tasks, EQ equips you to handle relationships and navigate human interactions, making it essential for communication, conflict resolution, and leadership.

How do emotions impact decisions in the workplace?

Emotions have a powerful influence on how we think and act. Consider how your mindset shifts when you’re feeling sad, angry, or fearful.

Anger can lead to impulsive, aggressive decision-making with little room for compromise.

Fear might cause hesitation, self-doubt, or passivity.

Without the ability to understand and manage these emotions—both in yourself and in others—interactions can quickly become strained, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and tension.

EQ is valuable in the workplace

This is why EQ is essential in the workplace. Studies show that employees with higher EQ scores are often rated higher in areas like interpersonal skills, leadership, and stress management. In fact, a survey of hiring managers found that almost 75% of respondents said they valued an employees’ EQ more than their IQ.

How EQ and IQ complement each other

In the past, intelligence (IQ) and emotions (EQ) were viewed as opposing forces. Leaders prioritized logic and facts, often overlooking the emotional aspects of decision-making. However, EQ and IQ work best in tandem.

For example

A leader with a high IQ may develop a brilliant business strategy, but without EQ, they might struggle to communicate it clearly, gain team buy-in, manage stress, or handle conflicts. This lack of emotional insight can lead to misunderstandings, team friction, and poor execution.

In contrast, a leader who combines IQ with EQ can create thoughtful strategies while staying composed under pressure, communicating effectively, motivating their team, and managing dynamics to drive success.

Stronger together

By blending IQ’s problem-solving power with EQ’s emotional insight, leaders can navigate challenges with both logic and empathy—driving stronger teams and better outcomes for the organization.

How to build emotional intelligence

The good news? EQ is a skill you can develop. By strengthening your emotional intelligence, you set yourself up for success in your professional life and personal relationships.

So, how do you develop a higher EQ? It starts with honing your abilities in four key areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.

1. Self-Awareness: Understanding Your Emotions

Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence (EQ). It’s the ability to recognize how your emotions influence your thoughts, behaviors, and interactions with others. Being in tune with your emotions allows you to make intentional, thoughtful decisions instead of reacting impulsively. For example, if there’s tension in your personal life, you might notice that you become more withdrawn or absent-minded at work. By understanding this emotional shift, you can consciously address it instead of letting it control your actions.

Take this scenario: You had an argument with your partner before arriving at work. Without self-awareness, you might unintentionally lash out at colleagues or disengage from your team. However, by pausing and acknowledging your lingering frustration, you can take a step back. You might think,“ That was a heated discussion this morning. I’m still carrying that tension, and it’s affecting how I’m interacting here.” This kind of self-awareness allows you to separate your emotions from your current situation and act with intention.

2. Self-Management: Regulating Your Reactions

Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence (EQ). It’s the ability to recognize how your emotions influence your thoughts, behaviors, and interactions with others. Being in tune with your emotions allows you to make intentional, thoughtful decisions instead of reacting impulsively.

For example, if there’s tension in your personal life, you might notice that you become more withdrawn or absent-minded at work. By understanding this emotional shift, you can consciously address it instead of letting it control your actions.

Tip for Managers: During challenging discussions—especially on sensitive topics or when opinions clash—self-awareness coupled with self-management are your best tools. If you catch yourself tensing up or getting defensive, acknowledge it and take a moment to breathe. This simple pause can help you step back from intense emotions, refocus on listening, and prevent conflicts from escalating.

3. Social Awareness: Reading the Room

Social awareness is the ability to read others’ emotions, interpret social cues, and recognize how environments and power dynamics affect interactions. It helps you stay attuned to what’s happening around you and adjust your responses accordingly.

People with strong social awareness are skilled at “reading the room.” They notice subtle emotional cues and adjust their behavior to ensure others feel understood and valued.

For instance, if a colleague seems unusually tense, social awareness allows you to gauge whether they need space or support. In the workplace, this skill leads to better collaboration, improved communication, and a positive culture.

Tip for Managers: During meetings, being socially aware helps you notice nonverbal cues such as body language or facial expressions and adjust your approach. If someone seems hesitant to speak up, gently encourage them to share their thoughts, or connect with them one-on-one afterward. This demonstrates that you value their input, builds trust, and encourages more open communication in the future.

4. Relationship Management: Building Strong Connections

Relationship management is about clear, effective communication that builds strong trust, rapport, and connections. When you invest in these skills, you can inspire and motivate others, resolve conflicts, and collaborate efficiently.

Consider a situation where two colleagues disagree. Someone with low EQ might either react angrily and escalate the conflict or avoid the issue entirely, allowing boundaries to be crossed—neither of which solves the problem.

In contrast, a person with high EQ can address the issue calmly while acknowledging the other person’s perspective and guiding the conversation toward a solution. This approach makes the other person feel heard and validated, allowing the conflict to be resolved without damaging the relationship.

Over time, these skills help you deliver hard-to-hear feedback constructively without causing others to shut down.

EQ is an essential skill for leaders to develop

Managing a team goes beyond overseeing tasks; it’s about understanding and guiding people. While IQ is important, EQ gives leaders the edge in motivating teams, resolving conflicts, communicating effectively, and creating a positive culture. Developing your EQ can make all the difference in building a stronger, high-performing team.