EQ, IQ and then there’s perseverance
I’m a millennial and since
childhood, my generation was taught to work hard for good grades. Tags like ‘Genius’
and ‘intelligent’ etc. were used for children who exhibited higher IQ. Every
parent hoped that their child secured one of Top 3 positions and thus pave the
way for a successful life. Higher IQ was an automatic ticket to a good life and
children more interested in sports were discouraged and asked to focus on
studies. This trend carried on through College and University life where Percentage
secured and GPA were thought to determine success.
It’s important to remember that our
parents belonged to a generation that didn’t hesitate to spend their whole
lives with one organization. For them stability was very important and based on
their perception getting good grades was a foolproof method to get a good job.
The entrepreneurial spirit just hadn’t penetrated their thought process.
However, the 1990s and especially the
turn of millennium heralded the rise of a cult of personalities including Steve
Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet etc. These people did not
subscribe to the Einstein IQ syndrome (some were even dropouts) and yet were highly successful in their
lives. This was the time when Daniel Goleman wrote a book titled ‘Emotional
Intelligence’ and posited that EQ was actually more important that the sacred
IQ. Let's look at both terms and try to find a path.
Intelligence quotient
IQ or ‘book smarts’ is a measure of
cognitive abilities like knowledge, vocabulary, short-term and working memory,
reasoning and mathematical ability. IQ is calculated by dividing an individual’s
mental age with his/her chronological age and multiplying the result by 100. Most
IQ scores are calculated by forming average score for a certain age group and
then comparing the test-taker’s score with it.
Emotional quotient
EQ or ‘street smarts’ is a measure
of emotional intelligence which is focused on identifying and controlling one’s
emotions, evaluating and responding to how others feel, using emotions to facilitate
social communication. Man is a social animal and hence EQ anticipates how individuals
will perform in teams, what characteristics define leaders and how best outcomes
are achieved.
Understanding these two terms in
very important because they represent a fundamental change in perspective.
Suddenly the sportsman is trending because he/she has developed a higher EQ
through engagement in teamwork, leadership scenarios, pressure situations and achieving
goals. It goes without saying that a person possessing both high IQ and EQ, has a
killer combination. However, there’s a third factor which might triumph
everything and that is Perseverance.
Perseverance
Every famous personality has
varying degrees of IQ and EQ, but it is perseverance that truly defines the
heights they reached. In modern times, the best example could be that of Jack
Ma or our very own Imran Khan. These guys had a clear vision and embraced
failure numerous times. They didn’t focus on naysayers, persevered with their
vision, and in the end achieved their goals. They are also great examples of
giving back to the society through diverse philanthropic pursuits.
Conclusion
Results truly matter, but while raising the next generation we must try to inculcate a balance of IQ, EQ and
perseverance in their mindset. This will help them to find a cause, work on
what they excel and contribute to society. We can't make children do what we want, we must support them in finding 'what they want to do.' The world is changing and the pace
with which we embrace this change, will determine future success.
well concluded
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