How to Evaluate Your Own Emotional Intelligence

‘What you need now is emotional intelligence,’ was what China’s new president told a graduating class last month at their top tech school.

Now Bloomberg’s Businessweek tells us that Yale’s school of management has added a test of emotional intelligence to its admissions requirements.

And how’s your emotional intelligence?

Just as for IQ, there are several theoretical models of emotional intelligence, each supported by its own set of research findings. The one I’ve proposed — which has fared well in predicting actual business performance — looks at a spectrum of EI-based leadership competencies that each helps a leader be more effective.

Here are some questions that will help you reflect on your own mix of strengths and limits in EI. This is not a “test” of EI, but a “taste” to get you thinking about your own competencies:

1) Are you usually aware of your feelings and why you feel that way?

2) Are you aware of your limitations, as well as your personal strengths, as a leader?

3) Can you manage your distressing emotions well – e.g., recover quickly when you get upset or stressed?

4) Can you adapt smoothly to changing realities?

5) Do you keep your focus on your main goals, and know the steps it takes to get there?

6) Can you usually sense the feelings of the people you interact with and understand their way of seeing things?

7) Do you have a knack for persuasion and using your influence effectively?

8) Can you guide a negotiation to a satisfactory agreement, and help settle conflicts?

9) Do you work well on a team, or prefer to work on your own?

And the good news: emotional intelligence competencies can be upgraded.

Coaches/trainers: What questions would you ask? Leave them in the comment field, or tweet them to @DanielGolemanEI.