Digging Deeper - The Importance of Assessing A Candidate's Emotional Intelligence

Hiring exceptional workers is a common talent management goal for companies seeking to develop high-performance teams and retain top employees. Interviews and vetting processes can reveal skill sets, experience, and content knowledge. But how do hiring teams discern a candidate's personal values, mindset, and self-awareness? Now more than ever, soft skills are part of a complete candidate profile leading to both individual and team success.??

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Simply put, emotional intelligence (or EQ) is a level of self-awareness that defines an individual's ability to recognize feelings in themselves and others. Emotionally intelligent people are motivated to succeed through a relationship-oriented mindset. They effectively manage day-to-day interactions with others through a sincere desire to listen, learn, empathize and find solutions to problems that leave all players feeling validated and honored for what each brings to the table.?

Characteristics of emotional intelligence include:

• Self-awareness - the ability to understand and control one's emotions.
• Self-regulation - the ability to demonstrate thoughtful, purposeful actions as opposed to impulsive reactions.?
• Empathy - the ability to thoughtfully consider the viewpoints and needs of others.
• Highly Social - the ability to maintain a relationship-based mindset and be someone that is easy to talk to.

Questions That Uncover Emotional Intelligence

Consider these five questions when seeking to add candidates with high EQ.

1. "Describe a situation where things didn't go as expected and despite your efforts, the project you were working on failed." This question can help discern whether or not a candidate takes full responsibility for their actions and has insight into their own abilities.?

2. "When have you received feedback that was negative or difficult to hear?? What happened and how did the experience impact you?"? Listen for the applicant's ability and openness to receive constructive feedback as well as their ability to understand alternative perspectives.

3. "Tell us about a fellow employee who rubbed you the wrong and how you coped with your differences." Candidates that embrace diversity will not only readily identify differences that challenge them but will also understand how their behavior impacts others.?????

4. "Describe a time when you needed help on a project and the resulting outcome."? Emotionally intelligent workers have a window into their own infallibility knowing that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.?

5.? "Describe one accomplishment on the job you are especially proud of and why."? Does the candidate speak to team success or do they describe a situation that's "all about me?" Emotionally intelligent candidates know that it takes teamwork to find success.

A recent report in Forbes found that employees with emotional intelligence had a 63% less turnover rate during their first year of employment.? Investing in quality candidates can boost a company's bottom line, and investing in employees with emotional intelligence will positively impact the future for all involved.???