Multiple Intelligences at Work

LAUREN LING finds out how the three intelligences – Intelligence Quotient, Emotional Quotient and Physical Intelligence Quotient – weigh in for you in the workplace.

New studies have emerged to show that how well we do in life goes beyond the IQ score on a Mensa test.

We grow up being told that IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is very important, but over the years, new studies have emerged to show that how well we do in life goes beyond the IQ score on a Mensa test.

Take a look at the three intelligence quotients that shape your thoughts, actions and attitudes, and more importantly, influence your career success.

Measuring Brain Smarts

IQ is about the serial processing activity of the brain (rational thought). The learning is bound by rules and usually stepby- step. It measures the knowledge and experience you have, and how well you think.

When children are taught the multiplication tables, we are wiring their brains for serial processing. The way we are taught in school is to equip us to solve rational problems and perform definite tasks that have a desired end result. We use what we know to achieve a goal.

In theory, this sounds fine. In real life, however, we know that there are many ways to approach the same challenge.

Being overly rational and thinking too much may result in a deadlock, leaving some people stuck in the same mode of thinking all the time, unable to change or move forward.

Traditionally in the workplace, employees were expected to do the job they’re paid for. Company structures were static, with not much upward mobility. That has changed in today’s world, where employees have taken on much more entrepreneurial roles. They are made accountable, whether for individual or group performances, which throws the traditional construct of automated thinking out the window.

Fast track promotions give individuals the motivation to perform his or her best. Usually, it takes more than a high IQ to achieve this, and people are starting to realise a lot of other factors come into play.

A Certain Feeling

Also known as emotional intelligence, EQ is the link between emotion and the environment. If IQ is thinking with the brain, EQ is ‘thinking’ with the heart and body. It is about how we associate with the people around us and the situation we are in, also known as associative thinking or learning.

We develop EQ through trial and error, through experience and time. The more times a skill is practised successfully, the higher likelihood it will be performed again. It is innate. Take for example the ability to gauge someone’s mood by their body language. You know the skill, you feel it, you do it – but you do it without thinking.

In layman terms, EQ is equivalent to maturity. Emotions are a big part of it, and as such, though it is a valid skill set, there is no rational aspect to it and no rules to play by.

As the workplace evolves and new challenges come our way, employees need to have the ability to respond to different pressures. The hurdles we face today are different from the hurdles of the previous generation. As new markets emerge, new skills need to be developed. We cannot rely on how things have always been done because the goal has shifted.

To be successful, you have to react in time, and usually this involves changing mindsets and integrating thought and feelings. It’s about resolving crises in a professional way. Whether you’re at the entry level in a corporation or in a management position, it’s very crucial that you are able to handle those around you well, and this involves making and carrying out decisions with the least opposition.

No one likes to work with a difficult team member, or deal with an unreasonable manager. EQ encourages people to act with a level of maturity and fairness in the workplace. The good news is that a high EQ culture is able to be cultivated through time.

Listen to Your Body

This is the latest buzzword in intelligences. PQ is about listening to the physical cues of your body and responding accordingly. It spurs you to take care of the food you eat and your lifestyle. It advocates a balance in life, complete with proper rest and relaxation. It helps you deal with stress so that you are not constantly run down.

Employees now place more and more emphasis on work life balance. The new generation seeks flexible working hours, gym facilities at work, daycare for working mothers and such. It’s no longer just about work because we realise in order to function optimally at work, there has to be something outside of work to escape to. As such, some corporations are starting to realise this and strive to provide a conducive environment at work.

How it All Comes Together

Each of the intelligences above has its merits. However, taken individually, they may yield limited effectiveness.

Imagine a really smart employee (IQ) who graduated on top of his class. He has the knowledge to do the job, but finds himself lacking the experience and maturity (EQ) needed to deal with his colleagues who are difficult. He cannot communicate with his team, leading them to ostracise him outside of work. This leads to a lot of emotional and physical stress (PQ), which he doesn’t know how to handle.

His brain (IQ) tells him it doesn’t matter as long as he clocks in, gets his part done and clocks out, but he feels isolated, lonely and depressed (EQ) because there is no support for him at work. His self-preservation mode kicks into play (PQ), and he ends up quitting before a year has gone by.

However, if all three intelligences are cultivated and developed, the level of creativity and productivity would make the corporate environment dynamic and progressive. If the said employee had enough social skills to endear himself to his colleagues, his team would have gained a valuable team player, and he would progress rapidly in his career, instead of getting stalled in his first job.

Intellect can be developed through self-study, training programmes, even reading extensively. EQ is a little tricky, but constant interaction with peers will be able to polish the edge off a difficult personality. Employers need to play a part in nurturing maturity and EQ through career counselling and conflict management training. PQ transcends the physical workspace; it is also about making sure the environment at work does not stress you out.

If you work in a place where issues and grievances are dealt with properly, and employees are valued, then you will be more productive. It is also about how you deal with work stress; there has to be balance in work and life in order to stay motivated. If you feel work encroaching on life, resentment can set in, leading to demotivation and ill feelings.

So what’s your intelligence score?