This week, I had the privilege of attending an insightful training on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) with the highly knowledgeable and inspiring Bodil Jonasson. While I’ll share more once I’ve completed the training, I wanted to reflect on some thoughts that have been circulating in my mind lately.

Are we living in a world with diminishing empathy? Have we become so fearful of losing what we have – or have we already lost something significant – that trust and faith are eroding, taking empathy with them? Can we actually lose our ability to empathize?

I don’t have all the answers, but these questions led me to revisit the fundamentals of EQ and how it differs from IQ.

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IQ vs. EQ: What’s the Difference?

Did you know that IQ peaks in early adulthood, while EQ continues to develop and typically reaches its peak around retirement age? Unlike IQ, which remains relatively stable, EQ is something we can train and enhance over time. And it extends far beyond just empathy.

IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is rooted in the early 20th-century work of psychologist Charles Spearman, who introduced the concept of general intelligence (“g”) – a single factor underlying various cognitive abilities. Later, Louis Leon Thurstone challenged this idea by identifying multiple “Primary Mental Abilities” rather than a singular intelligence.

Howard Gardner then expanded this perspective with his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, recognizing that intelligence manifests in many forms, from logical reasoning to musical and bodily-kinesthetic abilities.

Despite these evolving views, IQ tests primarily assess verbal, numerical, and spatial abilities – offering a measure of intelligence that doesn’t account for emotional and social intelligence.

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The Rise of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

In 1995, Daniel Goleman popularized Emotional Intelligence with his groundbreaking book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. His model highlights five key domains:

✅ Self-awareness – Understanding your emotions and their impact
✅ Self-regulation – Managing emotions effectively
✅ Motivation – Using emotions to drive achievement
✅ Empathy – Recognizing emotions in others
✅ Social skills – Navigating relationships and communication

Goleman emphasized that EQ is not a fixed trait but a set of learned capabilities that can be developed and strengthened.

Building on Goleman’s work, Reuven Bar-On introduced a broader model of emotional and social intelligence, categorizing it into three components:

• Facilitators – Personal traits that support emotional well-being (e.g., optimism, self-regard, emotional self-awareness).
• Skills – Abilities that can be cultivated over time (e.g., stress tolerance, impulse control, interpersonal relationships).
• Competencies – The integration of facilitators and skills, leading to adaptive emotional functioning (e.g., problem-solving, emotional self-expression).

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So, Can We Lose EQ?

It’s not about IQ vs. EQ – both play a role in how we navigate the world. But if EQ includes optimism, self-awareness, and impulse control, could we lose some of it when life’s challenges wear us down? If trust is eroding and optimism is fading, is our collective EQ suffering?

Many of us feel devastated by current global events. Yet, there’s a reassuring truth: EQ can be strengthened. It is not predetermined, and as leaders, we have a responsibility – not just to ourselves but to those we lead – to grow our EQ and inspire others to do the same.

Learn & Lead the Way,
Frida