Skills | Emotional Intelligence deemed more important than experience

New research has found that employers are placing greater importance on Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ) over employee experience or education.

The competence to be aware of, control and express emotions and the ability to handle interpersonal relationships with empathy are both examples of EQ – the extent of a person's intelligence.

The survey of over 500 people managers by Lee Hecht Harrison Penna found that 39% ranked trustworthiness, flexibility (28%), confidence (27%) and resilience (27%) as more important than employee experience levels (13%) or education levels (11%) – demonstrating a greater emphasis on the importance of EQ.

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Burak Koyuncu PhD, Workforce Solutions Director, Lee Hecht Harrison Penna, said that the results are telling: “This story has been at the heart of everything we do for some time, as our workforce transformation, leadership and career management programmes are all geared towards developing these soft skills in people at work that are so crucial to their development and productivity.