IT professionals on the look out for a new job should consider the
state of their emotional intelligence, writes Antony Savvas
Human resources departments are now testing for emotional
intelligence in an attempt to plug the gaps caused by the global
skills crisis in e-commerce.
Promoted in the US by psychologist Daniel Goldman, the approach
covers self-awareness, emotional management, self-motivation,
empathy, relationship management, communication skills and personal
style.
The idea is that companies facing rapid growth, such as those in
the e-business sector, should constantly be on the look-out to
promote those further down the pecking order who can display a high
emotional quotient (EQ), if not the highest IQ when it comes to
intellectual qualities.
One of the first firms in the UK to promote the use of emotional
intelligence is management consultancy Breakthrough Technology. Its
managing director Vip Vyas says, "An office assistant could be
typing up a report, then suddenly they could be made office manager
with five staff."
One of the first clients of Breakthrough is online recruitment
company The Skills Market, which Vyas says is trying to build a
flexible, learning-oriented, and open-minded culture which is
matched to the company's business vision.
The Skills Market says it is using emotional intelligence in an
attempt to recruit staff who can evolve and be adaptable.