Do The Top Engineering Colleges Undermine EQ (Emotional Quotient)?

Emotions are often dismissed as an instrument used by fools. In a world where time is money, no one can afford to deliberate how people around them are feeling. A pragmatic work ethic is glorified and is often associated with a thriving career, but in the process, people tend to forget the general importance of an emotional quotient.

This behavior is induced in individuals as early as school. Cognitive reasoning is considered paramount in school, as it is indicative of possessing conventional intelligence. Schools tend to test only the IQ through exams and measure how smart one is. Most fields indeed require rational thinking, but having a higher IQ is not a guarantee of a successful career; the higher you go in the work hierarchy, it is more essential to possess emotional intelligence.

1.5 million students graduate as engineers every year. Engineering is said to be one of the most applied courses, and with it, the question of the kind of lengths Engineering schools go to in order to increase productivity and workforce is raised. Most, if not all of their syllabus is based solely on the Intelligence Question. Most engineering students agree that their curriculum does not include any aspects of the Emotional Quotient. The only exposure they had was through informal and unstructured learning during project work and industrial placement. The teaching was not internalized. 

Why is that a bad thing, you ask? Because imagine having to only tamper in the pragmatic aspect of things, and not have to even think of the emotional aspect. It might pose as a task initially, but later on you will be able to look at things from that one aspect free from emotion. That is not only bad for the people that have to deal with you, but also for yourself.

There are specific characteristics that you can only hone and grow if you possess some amount of Emotional Quotient. Here are some of them:

1. Motivation

Self-motivation is showcased more in people who have a high EQ. They tend to weigh in situations not solely based on the money, or titular outcomes their work might have, but it is fuelled by an inner ambition that they set for themselves. High EQ individuals are surprisingly resilient to disappointment and failure, which allows them to keep at tasks even in times when it might seem too hard to do. 

In engineering school, it becomes imperative to follow protocol and meet deadlines, but when you are working for a corporation, there will be no one to hound you as they did in school. Hence, managers tend to hire who reflect a higher EQ because, in the long run, it poses a challenge to keep workers motivated.

2. Self-regulation

Keeping your emotions in check in a professional setting is a must. Every person at the workplace goes through a multitude of emotions throughout the day, but it is essential to not let them control your behavior. Being able to act logically is highly valued in a work setting, and people with high Emotional Quotients are able to accomplish just that without putting in any extra effort.

3. Empathy

At the end of the day, we are all human beings, some more emotional than others. It is vital to be aware of what other people around you are going through, and not merely remain oblivious. Emotionally intelligent are not only at par with their emotions but also the emotions of those around them. They possess the uncanny ability to view things from the perspective of other people (As Atticus said, “You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”) 

4. Self-awareness

Another trait that accompanies emotional intelligence is being self-aware. People who possess it can identify any shift in the emotions of others or themselves, both by internal or external conflict. If you have a higher EQ, you have improved reasoning abilities which allow them to view things from a rational perspective rather than jumping to conclusions due to the distorted turmoil within. 

5. People skills

Being a maestro of emotions, people with higher EQ tend to mingle well with others. Building rapport and trust comes easier to them than other people. Networking and lobbying are two very important traits that one needs to thrive in an office setting, and if you have an emotional intelligence backing you up, it only becomes a matter or honing the skill, and not having to develop it from scratch. 

It is essential for Engineering colleges to hone and challenge the cognitive abilities of their students. But that is not the sole skill they need to climb up the ladder to success. Even if they get by only using their IQ in school, it will not be the case in the real world, where they will not be able to excuse themselves from everyday life and what it may throw at them. IQ can only help you reach the field that you wish to work in, but your Emotional Quotient will help you excel in it.