The first “State of the Heart” report on emotional intelligence using a big data approach is out, and it looks like EQ is on the decline since 2011, after a post GFC rise from 2008 to 2011.
The report assessed emotional intelligence in 8 different sectors, with the highest EQ scores in the logistics/transportation, education and healthcare industries.
It also compared aggregate EQ scores across three regions in the world, Europe/Middle East/Africa, the Americas, and Asia/Australia/Oceania, with Asia topping the list, and the Americas falling to last place.
There were also some interesting EQ differences between genders – with men have stronger scores than women in the area of problem solving, and women have stronger skills in the area of prioritizing and reflection.
Since the 2014 State of the Heart, the biggest losses show in:
- Emotional Regulation – down 3.3% (maintaining emotional balance)
- Intrinsic Self-Motivation – down 2.9%
- Empathy – down 2.4%
So just how can we expect the impact to show in behaviour. Well, according to the report, with less emotional regulation, and less compassion for others, people are more volatile and more likely to behave in destructive ways. And, with lower self-motivation, behaviour is more passive towards goals.
With EQ essential for performance, this global decline in EQ comes at a time when problems and environments are most complex. EQ is essential to help combat growing stress and chaos in the world.
On the upside, the report showed increases in:
- Resilience [Adaptability] – up 1.2%
- Mindfulness [Reflection] – up 0.5%
- Self Mastery [Cognitive Intervention of Emotional Reactivity] – up .6%
One item most likely up for debate is a 0.6% increase in influence. With some claiming that the ability to ‘mask’ ones emotions opens the door for manipulation, rather than influence, this may not be seen as a good thing. Personally, I think that those with higher EQ skills don’t need to manipulate in negative ways, and secondly, people are also becoming more intuitive in picking up body language that indicates inauthentic intentions.
So in summary, it seems that overall, people are more emotionally volatile, but are applying EQ skills when facing emotional events, by applying some cognitive intervention to their responses.
Author: Gail La Grouw. Insight Mastery Program Director, and Strategic Performance Consultant for Coded Vision Ltd.
