Using intelligence definitions as a roadmap to self-improvement

When I was young, intelligence (like most things) was a lot simpler – you did an IQ test and were placed in class A or B, allowed to apply for certain specific courses or were told you were suited to xyz career etc. But that seemed a little prescriptive and psychologists and other human science researchers have been busy delving into this and coming up with more and more variations.

In the 1980’s Robert Sternberg developed the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence covering analytical, creative and practical intelligence – seems obvious now that you can be very creative but not very practical, very physically co-ordinated but not good with words. But that didn’t seem to be enough. Emotional Intelligence made its entrance in the mid-90’s and these days even a cursory scan through the internet will offer up articles describing increasing types of intelligence.

Why am I interested in this? Is my IQ so low that I need to find another way to show I’m special? Do I need a justification for why I just don’t get it in some situations but do in others? Well, maybe yes I do! IQ doesn’t measure aptitude or attitude and I know from experience (that’s another type of intelligence apparently) that these are as important as IQ. I also know that being aware of others’ moods, feelings and motivations is a useful skill in just about any profession.

Switching to the “Quotient” view for a moment, I am convinced I’m way up the ladder in terms of Creative Quotient and Emotional Quotient. If Creative Intelligence is “the ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem” then that’s me. In the context of enterprise software sales (which is the world I am in) I am confident I can take data and, combining it with experience, synthesize a new approach or a new potential solution to the problem or challenge posed to me by my customer.

But here’s the thing: As I look at all these Intelligence Quotients or Types, I start to see them as a guide to learning. With the possible exception of IQ, I look at all of them and wonder if I can improve my standing in other areas by consciously trying to be better. I’m sure there are very learned experts in this space who will say it’s impossible but guess what? Once again, I am not convinced.

• If I want to improve my Kinetic Intelligence (i.e. be physically smarter) I can practice. Michael Jordan spoke about missing more than 9,000 shots on the way to becoming as successful as he was.
• If I want to improve my Interpersonal Intelligence (i.e. people skills) again, I can practice simply by talking to people and observing their actions and reactions.

And so on...

Hence I am setting myself a task to improve. To take each of these areas and figure out where and how can I improve. Some of the systems of measurement are more qualitative than quantitative but there are plenty of people around me more than willing to give feedback (often unsolicited!) which I can use to gauge progress.

Will I end up a genius? No. Will I become a scratch golfer or have my art work hanging in the Louvre? Way beyond highly unlikely! But I am still convinced I can move the needle.

And what about you? Which one of the multiple Quotients or Intelligence Types will you choose as your guide to self-improvement?

Or are you already there and don’t need to change anything thank-you-very-much! If that’s the case, please let me know how you did it, I love to learn.

#motivation #selfimprovement #humancentricseller