There is no arguing that classical IQ, as measured by most intelligence tests, is important in our personal, academic, and professional success. Research, however, has found that emotional intelligence matters as much as (and, in many cases, more than) the classical IQ. One could almost say that emotional intelligence is a prerequisite for the proper development and actualization of our other intellectual abilities.

So what is EIQ? Simply put, it's the ability to recognize and label our feelings and needs, and reconcile those needs with both our long-term goals and the needs of other people. Beyond recognizing our emotions and those of others, it also involves expressing those feelings in a healthy, productive way. People with a high EIQ know how to control their emotions, and have developed coping mechanisms for consoling themselves when need be. They are also able to motivate themselves and mobilize their internal resources (energy, effort, discipline, perseverance, resilience) along with their external (building social networks through effective communication, social insight, empathy, reading others' emotions, setting boundaries) to be successful in life. It's not "smarts" in our typical understanding of the word, but it is equally powerful.

Overall Score = 83
Behavioral aspect = 78
Knowledge aspect = 111
Emotional insight into self = 72
Goal orientation and motivation = 66
Ability to express emotions = 102
Social insight and empathy = 106

General EIQ
Includes overall (your score = 83), behavioral aspect (78) and knowledge aspect scores (111)

There's some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that your Emotional IQ is quite low. In a practical sense, this means that you are not reaching your full potential. Low EIQ has a negative impact on all aspects of life such as relationships, your emotional health and level of motivation. As a result of your behavior, others may view you as being critical, inexpressive, inhibited, detached, cold, or even condescending. Your difficulties relating to others and dealing successfully with your own emotions may have a negative impact on your health; people with lower EIQs are prone to anxiety, depression, excessive guilt, aggressiveness, low self-concept, and stress-related problems. Chances are that you also have difficulty bouncing back from life's problems. Now for the good news: by learning and practicing new skills and more effective ways of dealing with people, you can significantly improve your EIQ. The benefits will be numerous, including stronger relationships, a more successful career and better health. Most of all, you will be an all-around happier person.

You seem to master quite a bit of the theoretical knowledge necessary for the full development of your emotional intellect. The problem seems to be that you are not bringing the theory to your everyday life. The good news is that you can do something about it even if you are a mature grown-up. And you can start right away!

Emotional insight into self (you scored 72)

You had a low score on Emotional Insight. People with such a score are generally out of touch with their own emotions, and frequently fail to recognize or identify their true feelings (they feel them at the physiological level but cannot verbalize it or conceptualize them). They may have problems pinpointing the underlying reasons for their own actions, which could potentially lead to miscommunication in interactions with others. They may also lack the ability to make themselves feel better when upset, angry or sad. In addition, people with this profile tend to have a low self-esteem, a lack of self-control in certain highly charged situations and experience difficulties bouncing back from life's setbacks. While there may be an advantage to rational detachment from their own emotions - that it softens the pain (at least for the moment) - it also has a serious disadvantage; they may not be able to enjoy positive feelings.

Goal orientation and motivation (you scored 66)

You had a low score on Motivation and Goal-orientation. People with such a score lack the intrinsic motivation that is necessary to progress towards a goal. Individuals who are not goal oriented and show low motivation levels are generally not self-starters and have difficulty overcoming obstacles between them and their goals. They tend to lack self-discipline and a sense of direction in their lives, which hinders their attempts to achieve success. Essentially, they have difficulty delaying gratification and are pleasure/comfort oriented (they choose the easiest way out rather than putting in the necessary time and energy to go after a more fruitful goal). In addition, people with this profile have a high need for external reinforcement (like praise, frequent encouragement) and low internal motivation (personal satisfaction over reaching goals) which makes it more challenging to stick things out in the long-term.

Ability to express emotions (you scored 102)

You fit somewhere in the mid-range when it comes to Emotional Expression. People with such a score are able to express their emotions in most situations, although they may feel less comfortable with some emotions than others (anger, sadness or even joy). Individuals who posses the ability to express and recognize emotions are typically more communicative, assertive, and self-confident. They also are generally well equipped to form mature, intimate relationships. With a medium score, however, there is still room for improvement. People with this profile may occasionally find it difficult to share with others, or feel they need to protect their integrity or ego by hiding what they consider "irrational" emotions. They may sometimes put on a poker face, without realizing that others can't tell what they are feeling. While they may actually be very sensitive, they could sometimes come across as distant or uninvolved.

Social insight and empathy (you scored 106)

You show a level of Social Insight and Empathy that is slightly above average. Individuals in this range are typically able recognize the emotions of others and understand the underlying motivation behind their actions. They are also able to put themselves in other people's shoes and empathize, which is obviously an important skill for satisfying and meaningful human interaction.

Potential strengths
*These are the aspects of the test that you had a medium score on. With some work, they could become strengths.

• Basic understanding of which behavior is emotionally intelligent.
• Some ability to express emotions and deal with emotional people.
• Generally recognizes emotions in others, has some insight into their motives, and is somewhat empathetic.

• Overall low emotional intelligence.
• Behavior not generally emotionally intelligent.
• Lack of insight into own emotions and low emotional control.
• Low intrinsic motivation and goal-orientation.

Here are some ways anyone can improve their ability to gain insight into their own emotions:

• Stay in touch with your feelings; pay attention to what triggers them and how you react.
• Question your beliefs: do you think ignoring your emotions will make them go away? While this may be true for minor issues, strong feelings will manifest themselves in other ways (health problems, bitterness, etc.).
• Pay attention to your body when you're upset, sad or angry - what are the signs?
• Be honest with yourself; everyone feels things, and it's nothing to hide or be nervous about. Emotions are important signals that we need to listen to.
• Boost your coping skills; build a supportive social network, learn how to relieve stress, etc.
• If you're prone to losing control of your emotions, try taking a step back from heated situations. Give yourself some time to gain control rather than reacting immediately.
• Practice keeping your feelings under control (without suppressing them) and it will become more natural.
• Build your self-esteem.
• Remember: emotion is just a whirlwind of activity passing through your body and mind. You help create it, and feed it; how you react is important to its outcome.
• Get to know yourself better. For example, make a list of your strengths and limitations. The more in touch you are with who you are, the better you will be able to understand and handle your emotions.

Goal Orientation and Motivation

Here are some ways anyone can improve their motivation:

• Give yourself a taste of success to gain motivation and belief in the worthiness of your goals. For example, if you would like to start a career helping people in some way, volunteer somewhere to gain some experience. If you want to write a novel, begin with a short story. Once you experience a "slice" of your goal, you will be more driven to pursue it outright.
• Get a mentor. Do you know someone who is inspiring to you? Learn what you can from their experience.
• Consider that poorly chosen goals may be decreasing your motivation. Ponder questions such as; Are your goals realistic? Are they really what you care about, or do they represent other people's ambitions for you? Assess to find a goal that motivates you and you're on the right track.
• Are other things going on in your life that could be de-motivating you? If you are stressed about other things, or dealing with issues, it may be hard to even think about goals. Deal with these issues and your drive should improve.
• Apply self-control and self-discipline. Practice delaying gratification and stifling impulsiveness.
• Take small steps if the big ones overwhelm you. If your goal, for example, is to "sell" a new idea at work, take care of all the details first. Gather information, do all the beginning steps and things will take on a life of their own. Reward yourself when you complete different steps.
• Make contracts with yourself; write down the reasons why you want to pursue the goal and refer to it later on when you feel discouraged.
• Learn to be your own coach; practice positive self-talk, give yourself a pat on the back.
• Post your goals somewhere prominent so that you can see them everyday.
• Here's a quote from Goethe to inspire you when you find yourself lacking motivation:

  "Are you in earnest?
  Seize this very minute;
  What can you do, or dream you can do,
  Begin it!
  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it;
  Only engage and then the mind grows heated;
  Begin and then the work will be completed."

Emotional Expression

Here are some ways anyone can improve their ability to express emotions:

• Take small steps; start expressing emotions that are least intimidating and you will surely find that it's not as bad as you think. On the positive side, begin with genuine compliments, and then take it further to an expression of appreciation. When you need to communicate a negative feeling, try writing it if you feel too intimidated to say it. Like learning any new skill, it will get easier with practice.
• Choose what is most important. You can't obviously express every little thing you feel, or throw all your strong emotions at someone at the same time. It is more effective (and healthier) to pace your expressions evenly - don't wait for the floodgates to open because they can't hold any longer.
• Learn to communicate effectively. An important factor in the effectiveness of expressing our emotions is HOW we do it. Blowing up at someone, for example, is not usually the best way to communicate a feeling. Good communication skills are the key. And, being skills, they can be learnt.
• Build self-confidence and self-esteem. The more assertive you become, the easier it should be to express your feelings.
• Build meaningful, trusting relationships. Most of us need someone we can talk to, someone we know we can express our feelings to with no fear of rejection or ridicule.
• Consider the implications of not releasing your feelings: lack of intimacy with others, pent up feelings, health problems, etc.
• Remember that communication involves a lot more than what is just said. Our gestures, expressions and tone of voice send just as strong (or even stronger signals) than the words we choose.
• Practice distinguishing between what you are thinking and what you are feeling. They are not always one and the same, and we need to recognize this in order to clearly express where we are coming from.

Social Insight and Empathy

Here are some ways anyone can increase their social insight and empathy:

• Pay attention to how others are reacting, and what they are communicating to you. Putting in the extra effort to really listen and observe can teach you a lot about human interaction and emotions.
• While you certainly can't fake empathy, you can increase your connection to other people by truly listening and trying to put yourself in their shoes.
• Build meaningful relationships that teach you about human nature.
• If you're not sure how someone is feeling, ask for clarification (if it's appropriate); a simple "How are you feeling?" or "Could you explain your perspective to me?" might do the trick.
• Put aside your own preoccupations to consider what might be going through other people's minds in different situations. Ask yourself how you would feel in a similar situation. In every situation, there are several perspectives. Try to identify at least 2 or 3 different ways to look at it.
• Put empathy in action. Get involved in helping people in some way (i.e. volunteering); the closer you get to a situation, the more you should realize the difficulties others might be facing.