The Strength of Emotional Quotient (EQ) Compared to IQ and Schooling: Changing How We See Success

For many years, people have believed that going to school and being smart are the main ways to be successful. Degrees, IQ points, and grades have been seen as the best ways to achieve wealth. Yet, new studies show something else might be more important for doing well in life: emotional intelligence (EQ). This article looks into how EQ, along with creativity, leading skills, and controlling emotions often matters more than just IQ or schooling when it comes to achieving great results.

Looking at Success Data

1. Education and Money:

In the list of the 100 richest people worldwide, about 76% have a bachelor’s degree and less than 25% have higher degrees like master’s or PhDs. About 30% never finished college; famous names like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison are among them.

Surprisingly, none of the top 100 wealthy individuals have doctoral degrees. This shows that having high-level education does not guarantee financial success.

2. EQ vs. IQ:

A study from Harvard Business Review points out that nearly 90% of the reasons top leaders stand out from others relate to their emotional intelligence.

Another study by TalentSmart indicates that emotional intelligence accounts for 58% of job success while IQ and special skills play lesser roles.

Why EQ is More Important

1. Leading Skills:

Leaders with high EQ know themselves well, feel for others, and communicate effectively which helps them earn trust and motivate teams while dealing with complex situations.

On the other hand, those with high IQs might find it difficult to cooperate and communicate effectively—key aspects of leadership.

2. Creating Instead of Following:

Formal education often focuses too much on fitting in rather than thinking outside the box. However, many successful innovators—like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk—show that creativity alongside emotional understanding is vital for significant breakthroughs.

Being emotionally intelligent boosts creativity as it encourages resilience, flexibility, and open ideas—essential when facing difficult problems.

3. Control Emotions for Strong Resilience:

Emotional intelligence teaches people to better handle pressure, deal with failures smoothly, and stay committed even when things get tough. This ability marks successful business owners and leaders.

Society's Focus on Schooling Over Skills

The common belief linking success tightly with school achievements might overlook how crucial emotional abilities are. While education imparts theoretical knowledge typically misses out on key life skills like:

Solving conflicts: Handling disagreements smoothly.

Self-control: Managing feelings and reactions.

Compassion: Relating well with others.

Society wrongly values formal titles more than actual skills needed for work impact. History offers examples of those without traditional schooling who made great changes in society; figures like Jesus, Buddha, Socrates, Harriet Tubman, Thomas Edison also the Wright Brothers left marks on history without formal education credentials behind them. Their stories remind us that leadership qualities can go beyond academic titles.

The Code of Leadership: Changing Definitions of Success

The Code of Leadership values mastering emotions along with meaningful leadership approaches focusing on personal growth as core elements in reaching true success. For a change in views on success socially we need to focus more on:

Shifting emphasis from IQ towards nurturing EQ in schools and job places.

From Degrees to Skills for Leading: Knowing that leading—based on feeling control—does better for doing well than just having degrees.

From Following Rules to New Ideas: Pushing for new thoughts and analysis instead of just memory work.

Ending Note: Be Part of the Manliness Code Group

Even though schooling and smartness help, the ideas of The Manliness Code—honor, leading ability, feeling control, and fresh ideas—show clear strength in building these qualities for a rich and big-life. Top leaders and creators shine not from their degrees but from their skill to motivate, change, and relate. As our world changes, taking in the ideas of The Manliness Code can change how we guide and bond. Explore more about these values and join a group focused on changing how we see success and leadership. Go to www.skool.com/happinessmastrmind/about to be part of this big change.