Emotional intelligence for entrepreneurs

Attaining success as an entrepreneur takes many different qualities and elements. One of the most overlooked qualities that determine success, whether in business or employment, is emotional intelligence.

Also known as emotional quotient (EQ), this is the kind of smarts that help you read situations and people correctly and respond appropriately. The term “emotional intelligence” was coined by Salovey and Mayer in 1990 and popularised by psychologist Dr Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book Emotional Intelligence. Goleman pointed out that emotional intelligence encompasses both personal competencies (such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation) and relationships with others (empathy and social skills).