Qu'est-ce que Emotional Intelligence ?

Definition

Emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) is the capacity to recognise, understand, manage and constructively use emotions — both one's own and those of others. Popularised by Daniel Goleman's 1995 book, it is typically described across five dimensions: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

In practice

In professional settings, emotional intelligence is associated with effective leadership, constructive conflict management, team cohesion, client relationship quality, and resilience under pressure. High EQ enables someone to remain composed in difficult conversations, accurately read social dynamics, give and receive feedback productively, and adapt communication style to their audience. In recruitment, EQ is increasingly assessed through situational judgement tests, structured behavioural interviews ("Tell me about a time you managed a difficult stakeholder"), and validated psychometric tools. However, EQ is more developable than raw intelligence — coaching, mindfulness practice, and deliberate reflection can measurably improve emotional competencies over time.

Key takeaway

Emotional intelligence often determines whether technical skills translate into real impact — particularly in leadership, client-facing, and collaborative roles.