Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than I.Q. or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work. ~Warren Bennis
I came across a really helpful blog post by Carolyn Sun on Entreupeneur.com regarding interview questions to determine emotional intelligence when hiring. However, I think the questions are also great for self-reflection for anyone in a leadership position. Even if you’re not in the midst of a job search, how would you answer the questions? What’s your emotional intelligence (E.Q.), as a leader?
Who inspires you and why? Allows you to see who the interviewee models themselves after and highlights the behavioral patterns the interviewee respects.
If you were starting an organization tomorrow, what would be its top three values? “Insight into a person’s priorities can emerge in the candidate’s answer,” says Robert Alvarez, the CFO of ecommerce platform Bigcommerce.
If the organization’s priorities change, describe how you would help your team understand and carry out the shifted goals? Shifting priorities happen in any organization, so look for candidates who are flexible and have skills to help carry out change, says Mariah DeLeon, vice-president of people at workplace ratings and review site Glassdoor. DeLeon advises, “Hire employees who are self-aware, motivated, and display empathy. These skills will help employees work better in teams.”
Did you build lasting friendships while working at another job? Being able to do this is a sign of solid emotional intelligence. Alvarez says, “A lasting friendship tells you that relationships and caring about people are important to the person.”
What skill or expertise do you feel like you’re still missing? Curiosity and the desire to learn are vital signs that a prospective employee wants to get better at something. “People who struggle with this question are the people who think they already know it all,” warns Alvarez. “These are the people you want to steer away from.”
Can you teach me something, as if I’ve never heard of it before? It can be anything: a skill, a lesson, or a puzzle. Their answer reveals a number of things: whether they are willing to take the time to think before speaking, if they have the ability to explain something to a person who is less knowledgeable on the subject, and if they ask empathetic questions to the person being taught.
What are the top three factors you would attribute to your success? This can determine whether a person is selfless or selfish. When people talk about their own success, listen to whether someone talks about ‘me-me-me’ or whether they talk about the team, ‘we’ or ‘us.’
So, what’s your E.Q.? Would you hire you?