Are Some People Smarter with Their Feelings? Attract, Hire and Develop Employees with Emotional Intelligence

In a previous Insight, I discussed how research confirms that emotional intelligence separates top performers from the pack.  Emotionally intelligent people are smart with their feelings. If you are convinced that emotionally intelligent people are better equipped to help lead your organization to success, you may wonder, "How do employers attract and hire emotionally intelligent, high performing people?"

Since these behaviors or attitudes reside within the control of each individual, how can a business seize on their potential to produce positive results? Especially in today’s competitive and stressful environment, employers need to set the threshold higher. In addition to recruiting people who demonstrate job skills and knowledge, employers should look for emotional intelligence.

Employers should first tailor their recruiting and screening processes.

The workforce consists of human beings who naturally respond to their environment and surroundings "from the inside out." Employers should tailor their recruiting processes and screen for emotionally intelligent candidates. Once hired, many HR professionals believe that continuous coaching and training further develops emotional intelligence.

Six Seconds, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation specializing in emotional intelligence research and organizational training, has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies and government and nonprofit agencies. As stated on their Web site, "Emotions make or break trust, loyalty and change—which is why emotional intelligence (EQ) is proven to be essential for success."

How the "wrong stuff" affected a world-renown organization, NASA.

Do you remember the Lisa Nowak story? Nowak gained international attention when the story broke in Feb. 2007. This NASA astronaut — a highly intelligent, highly educated and highly trained mission flight engineer — allegedly drove almost 1,000 miles, from Houston to the Orlando airport to confront and physically threaten a romantic rival. Sadly, this NASA astronaut and mother of three apparently had no emotionally intelligent thoughts during that 1,000 mile trip.

She is awaiting trail pending three formal charges, including attempted kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily harm or terrorize. While employers cannot be expected to control their employees on a 24/7 basis, this bizarre story must have thrown NASA’s public affairs into a tizzy. As the Wikipedia article states, "There was widespread reaction to Nowak's arrest with concerns expressed about NASA's astronaut selection and screening process and planned 30-month missions to Mars.

What evidence is there that emotional intelligence helps businesses succeed?

Cary Cherniss, Ph.D., a professor at Rutgers University who specializes in the study of emotional intelligence, stated on the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations Web site, "The ability to manage feelings and handle stress is another aspect of emotional intelligence that has been found to be important for success. Emotional intelligence has as much to do with knowing when and how to express emotion as it does with controlling it."

Cherniss provides compelling evidence that the emotionally intelligent make a significant difference when performing in a highly competitive business environment. His report, "The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence" can be found on the Consortium Web site. In a reader-friendly way, he makes his case with 19 real-world examples, figures, statistical data and other compelling evidence. If you read this report, I think you will agree that American businesses have a much greater potential of succeeding by hiring, fostering, developing and investing in emotionally intelligent employees.

Consider my empirical evidence gathered during a 25-year career.

In addition to published scientific research, I have 25 years worth of empirical evidence that convinces me: The level of collective emotional intelligence (or lack thereof) can make or break a workplace. And at a personal level, a lack of emotional intelligence can stunt an individual’s career growth. Also, based on my experience, emotional intelligence at the adult level has little to do with chronological age.

Why are business and organizational leaders, employers and managers showing a growing interest in this area of human behavior? According to the previously referenced WSJ article, Gardner’s "…popularity beyond academia reflects managers’ desire to understand what makes workers, peers, and bosses tick. Many companies, for example, are trying to boost employees’ ‘engagement,’ or emotional commitment to their jobs. Dr. Gardner says managers often ask him how to change minds ‘since that is something that they have to do a lot.’"

Why are businesses and organizational leaders, employers and managers showing a growing interest in this area of human behavior?