The concept has been studied for decades, but it wasn't until fairly recently that interviewing for “emotional intelligence” became a nonnegotiable practice in every successful company’s hiring process.
Success, as defined by emotional intelligence, is strongly influenced by personal qualities such as perseverance, self-control, and skill in getting along with others. In short, teamwork can make the dream work. Hiring managers are at an advantage when actively recruiting individuals who possess a strong sense of emotional intelligence.
So how can you ensure you’re hiring the best-fit individuals to contribute to your company’s culture? Start by loosening the stronghold of their resume. No matter how many qualifications a candidate has on paper if they don’t have the right emotional qualities, that candidate is unlikely to stick around. It’s a delicate balance to achieve, but hiring managers need to consider every candidate’s display of aptitude and attitude.
Daniel Goleman makes the case in his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ and Working With Emotional Intelligence.” To hire candidates who will succeed in your company, look for those who exemplify the following five pillars:
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Self-Awareness: Maintaining self-awareness of one’s strengths and shortcomings is key. Individuals who are self-aware can better handle criticism and learn from failure.
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Self-Regulation: Short fuses in the office will result in broken team morale, in-fighting, and costly mistakes. A person with high emotional intelligence can both reveal and regulate their emotions when appropriate.
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Motivation: Candidates who are only concerned with titles and compensation are a red flag. Self-motivated individuals are driven by the desire to learn through both success and failure.
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Empathy: Showing emotion and understanding is crucial for any successful team - both in the office and out. Those with empathy are able to foster genuine, long-lasting relationships.
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People Skills: High emotional intelligence allows for quickly-built rapport and trust-building. Candidates who display emotional intelligence are less apt to in-fighting, power struggles, and other toxic behavior. Trust is the backbone of every healthy business.
Are you struggling to recruit top talent for your organization? Eastridge Workforce Solutions makes it easy to attract the best-fit candidates you deserve. Contact us today to get started.