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No. 71 · People · Sociology

IQ vs EQ

Being clever and being wise with people are different strengths, and big decisions need both.

IQ, or intelligence quotient, measures cognitive skills like reasoning and problem solving. EQ, or emotional intelligence, describes how well we recognise and manage emotions in ourselves and others. They are different strengths, and the best decisions often need both.

To build EQ, name your feelings before reacting, respond to the emotion behind people's words, and ask for feedback on how you come across, not just whether you were right.

In the Almanac

“Salovey and Mayer”, 1990 · “Best Buy”, 2012–2019

Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.

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IQ vs EQ

Questions

What is IQ vs EQ?

IQ, or intelligence quotient, measures cognitive skills like reasoning and problem solving. EQ, or emotional intelligence, describes how well we recognise and manage emotions in ourselves and others. They are different strengths, and the best decisions often need both.

How do you use IQ vs EQ?

To build EQ, name your feelings before reacting, respond to the emotion behind people's words, and ask for feedback on how you come across, not just whether you were right.

When does IQ vs EQ matter?

IQ vs EQ is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Understanding people”, alongside Frame of Reference, High Context vs Low Context and Introverts vs Extroverts.

What is an example of IQ vs EQ?

Two stories show it at work: Salovey and Mayer (1990) and Best Buy (2012–2019). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.

Which mental models are related to IQ vs EQ?

Theory of Mind, Influence of Stress and Managing to the Person. IQ vs EQ itself comes from sociology.