Emotional Intelligence: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Improve Yours

### Emotional Intelligence: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Improve Yours

In 1995, a Time magazine cover asked a question that stopped people in their tracks: "What's your EQ?" Inside was a feature on a new book by psychologist Daniel Goleman arguing that emotional intelligence — not raw intellectual ability — was the most important predictor of success in life. The book sold 5 million copies in 40 languages. The concept rewired how businesses, schools, and individuals think about human potential.

Three decades later, the research has only strengthened the case.

A landmark study by TalentSmart tested emotional intelligence alongside 33 other workplace skills and found that EQ was the single strongest predictor of performance, accounting for 58% of success across all types of jobs. People with high emotional intelligence earn, on average, $29,000 more per year than their lower-EQ counterparts. And in terms of personal relationships, mental health, and leadership effectiveness, the data is equally compelling.

So what exactly is emotional intelligence — and how do you build more of it?

### Defining Emotional Intelligence