Over the years there has been a rising tide on the topic of multiple intelligences. In fact, one swell has risen over the other in constant motion. Yes, we have witnessed and bravely learned to ride each wave as it rose promisingly towards us. We even got excited before trepidation set in, and subsequently courage arose within us.
First, we learned the benefits of developing and amplifying our Intelligence Quotient so that we could land a decent job and later improve our prospects for desired positions at work. This was in the early 1900s. Professionals and leaders coveted high results on IQ tests.
Then in the 1990s, the idea of cultivating Emotional Quotient was introduced. It was popularized by Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence: Why It can matter more than IQ. This called for heightened self-awareness and a refined emotional vocabulary. The bar was raised higher. Many took on the challenge, while others were hesitant although aware of its relevance in a vague, esoteric manner.
A newer universal concept Social Quotient which had been introduced much earlier, took on a life of its own in 2006 with Daniel Goleman’s Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. In the early 2000s this became the sweeping culture of corporations. The ability to read group dynamics, develop ‘situational radar’ and grow empathy for others became the prevalent tune of workplace trainings.
As was bound to happen, over time a new wave began to rise dubbed the Adversity Quotient. This first received attention in the late 1900s. It began to emerge in the 2010s and acquired fresher energy in 2019 into the present with the onset of the pandemic, rapidly shifting economy, and now the undeniable incursion of AI. The ability to face and navigate the vagaries of life and recover from severe setbacks is under scrupulous scrutiny.
Just as we think we are learning to balance ourselves on these continually progressing waves, we see a new one coming our way. We are in constant motion. Let us pause and sort out the ocean surf.
The four main intelligence quotients as we know them are IQ, EQ, SQ, and AQ. The beauty is in the clean division of the skills needed for us to develop each one. To distill the concepts down simplistically we can think of each one assessing a different faculty: how we think (IQ), feel (EQ), act with others (SQ), and deal with life (AQ).
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Refers to your cognitive ability. It measures your processing speed, working memory, problem solving, reasoning ability, verbal comprehension, learning and recalling facts. It helps you soar with success.
Emotional Quotient (EQ) Refers to your emotional maturity. It measures your ability to identify, understand and manage your emotions. Self-awareness leads to self-regulation and self-motivation. By developing the art of naming and taming them, you are in a better position to recognize emotions in others. This opens the door to extending empathy towards them, steering towards healthier work and personal relationships. Teams and groups prosper.
Social Quotient (SQ) Refers to your social savviness. Your ability to read the room, watch for social cues, interpret emotions of others and respond appropriately gives you an edge over others in social and work situations. Your communication skills, conflict resolution, teamwork and collaboration, adaptability, negotiation and networking skills become invaluable assets in any professional setting.
Adversity Quotient (AQ) Refers to your resilience factor. It measures how you react to difficulties, strive, adapt, bounce back and thrive. Your endurance to maintain motivation, to have cognitive agility, to recognize what you can control, take ownership of actions and outcomes, to reach out for support and develop grit become the hallmark features of your flourishing. These are the qualities of vetted survivors and thrivers.
Each one of these intelligences is a desirable trait to nurture and grow. Ask yourself which one of these do you excel in and which ones do you flounder in. Then, take the time to cultivate them, slowly but surely.
So, grab your surfboard, paddle out to sea and catch the next wave. Learn to balance and use the wave’s natural propulsion. Happy surfing!