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Richard Branson Says EQ Is More Important Than IQ for Success. Science Suggests He’s Right
Richard Branson flunked out of school at age 16, never to return. He still managed to amass a net worth of several billion dollars, earn himself a knighthood, and appear to have a boatload of fun in the process. So perhaps it’s no surprise that when someone on LinkedIn recently asked him what was more important for success in life, EQ or IQ, he answered firmly in favor of emotional intelligence.
“I think being emotionally intelligent is more important in every aspect of life — and this includes business. Being a good listener, finding empathy, understanding emotions, communicating effectively, treating people well, and bringing out the best is critical to success. It will also help you build a business that really understands people and solve their problems, and it will make for a happier and healthier team too,” he replied. He added this:
“If I had let my IQ and my school grades determine my success, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.”
This response is certainly encouraging for anyone still nursing any lingering disappointment about their grades. Clearly, it is possible to struggle academically and do amazing things in life. But is Branson merely an extreme outlier, or is he on to something when he says EQ trumps IQ for achieving…
