What makes a good leader in the IT field? Having a high emotional intelligence rate, aka “EQ” was described in a recent Computer Weekly article. This buzzword to describe a psychological concept used in corporate culture since the mid 1990's goes beyond IQ in that it is more than cognitive skill, memory and depth of understanding about complex topics. Having a high EQ—knowing when and how to express emotion and controlling it—means that the leader has the technical savvy needed to be the “worker bee” as an analyst, programmer and network administrator, but when thrust into a management role, the person can also handle the emotional side of the work place, employees and fellow managers. “Psychologist David Mclelland...found that executives with higher EQ outperformed their annual revenue targets by 15-20%, and that 87% of the executives rated highly on EQ came in the top 33% of performance-related bonuses,” the article states. So, it appears to have some economic value. What are some characteristics of leader with a high EQ? They:

• Cope successfully and proactively with life's demands and pressures
• Build and leverage rewarding relationships with others
• Set and achieve personal and professional goals
• Seek first to understand, then to be understood
• Act with great authority and are not afraid to make tough decisions
• Lead by example
• Are able to get the most out of others

So, how is EQ measured? Psychologist Reuven Bar-On tested on more than 450,000 people worldwide during the last 20 years and his Bar-On EQ-i is one measure of emotional intelligence. The BarOn EQ-i consists of 133 items and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. It gives an overall EQ score as well as scores for the following 5 composite scales and 15 subscales, according to the Consoritum for for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, which is affiliated with Rutgers University in New Jersey. BarOn EQ-i Composite Scales and Subscales Intrapersonal Scales

• Self-Regard
• Emotional Self Awareness
• Assertiveness
• Independence
• Self-Actualization

Interpersonal Scales

• Empathy
• Social Responsibility
• Interpersonal Relationship

Adaptability Scales

• Reality Testing
• Flexibility
• Problem Solving

Stress Management Scales

• Stress Tolerance
• Impulse Control

General Mood Scales

• Optimism
• Happiness

So, is EQ here to stay, a real measurement of something useful? Or is it a new name for an old personality test? Some claim that a lack of empirical data exist to make any final assessments of EQ and further study is needed. A book by Kevin A. Murphy can provide more details about such a critique. See for yourself and tell us what you think. How can this be applied to the IT training world?