Is Emotional Intelligence an Important Skill to Assess When Hiring?

Posted by SRA Admin on Sep 23 2015

 

Emotional Intelligence and HiringHiring an employee that is a great fit involves a certain degree of artistry. It is possible to assess years of experience, job titles, and educational backgrounds using quantitative metrics, but it is just as important to know how to observe those less quantifiable qualities that may be just as important in determining a candidate's eligibility for the role. Emotional intelligence is just one such quality.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (also referred to as EQ) is an underlying quality that helps people to be more observant, self-aware, and ultimately better at picking up on social cues. Although there are strategies for honing emotional intelligence, people with the highest EQ are generally born with it. The most notable way in which emotionally intelligent people are different is the way in which they are able to interact with others. In virtually any professional environment or role, being able to successfully interact with colleagues, reports, and managers is an asset.

Is Emotional Intelligence Really That Important?

All other things being equal, people who are emotionally intelligent make better employees, particularly in leadership roles. That means emotional intelligence is especially important for expert executive recruiters to understand. Someone who is emotionally intelligent is not only able to reflect on his or her own feelings and how those are impacting their work, but they are able to better see emotions in their co-workers and reports. This ability to observe allows them to make the necessary shifts in behavior to work successfully with all types of people.

According to author Adele B. Lynn, emotional intelligence "accounts for anywhere from 24% to 69% of performance success." A high EQ allows managers to collaborate more effectively, to work productively under pressure, and to keep volatile emotional reactions out of the workplace and project a calm and confident demeanor, even in extreme situations. Those with a high EQ are also able to more clearly communicate with other team members, explaining not only the answers to questions or the description of a task at hand, but also how the answer has an impact on the bigger picture. This type of communication makes for more effective leaders as well as happier clients.

How Can You Interview for Emotional Intelligence?

For hiring managers and expert executive recruiters, looking for emotional intelligence in candidates is essential. While it is not a skill you can quantitatively test, there are some questions that can be added into an interview to help determine the interviewee's EQ.

Behavioral questions are particularly useful in determining emotional intelligence. Recruiters should ask about past situations in which the candidate faced particular challenges or even failures. Those who are emotionally intelligent will be able to describe what went wrong as well as the lessons learned from the situation. Someone who points out only how others on the team failed are displaying a warning sign for a lack of emotionally intelligent. It is also a good idea to ask questions about relationships with past employers and employees. Developing lasting friendships at work may seem like a frivolous consideration, but it shows the person's investment in relationships and in their job.

Emotional intelligence cannot be the only factor addressed in the hiring process, but when a hiring manager knows how to evaluate candidates for this valuable skill, it is a sign of someone who knows the ropes.

Topics: recruiters, recruiting

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