You’ve probably been hearing a lot about emotional intelligence in the last few years. 

Thousands of articles and think pieces have been written on the power of EQ in the workplace. Back in 2020, it was highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report as a key skill in demand from Australian employers, along with the likes of critical thinking, resilience, and leadership. 

But now more than ever, emotional intelligence is rising to the top as the most valuable skill for any employee, whether they’re in a leadership position or not. 

In 2022 and beyond, EQ will be a defining factor in the performance of your organisation and how well it can adapt to the world we live and work in. 

Here’s 3 reasons why it’s time to invest in building EQ. 

Leaders with high EQ are great in a crisis

Experts say there’s a three-in-four probability that there will be a recession by the start of 2024. Each day brings more and more uncertainty.

But while this could spell disaster for some organisations, it could be a boon for others. After all, some of the biggest companies in the world – Apple, Google, Uber, GE – were born in a recession. 

So what makes a success story? One thing that all of these companies have in common is strong, agile leadership. 

Leaders with greater emotional intelligence are able to roll with the punches, think on their feet, and get others to go along with new organisational changes. With high EQ leaders at the helm, your organisation can quickly change courses and adapt as needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Leaders with high EQ can help re-engage employees

With quitting rates hitting a ten-year high in Australia, it’s clear that organisations need to be proactive to retain their employees. One way to do this? Make sure you have emotionally intelligent leaders. 

According to a study by Georgetown University, 75% of employees lost commitment to their jobs due to a low EQ leader. Even worse, 12% of employees quit their jobs, specifically due to bad leadership.

But with a high EQ leader, workers are actually 400% less likely to leave their role. And on top of this, employees are far more engaged in the workplace, meaning that they are:

• 34% more likely to be able to perform their tasks to the best of their ability
• 46% more likely to report that they will continue to work with the organisation for the foreseeable future
• 45% more satisfied with their employers

Employees with high EQ are more resilient

Just existing in 2022 is exhausting. In order for employees to do their best work and take care of their mental health, they need to build up a healthy level of resilience. 

Studies have found a strong direct link between emotional intelligence and resilience. Those employees with a high level of EQ will be able to adapt quickly to organisational change, bounce back from setbacks, and cope better with workplace stress. 

It’s time to future-proof your organisation. Get in touch with the team at trainEQ to find out how you can give your employees a much-needed EQ boost.