Hands-On Exercise
What Is Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
Instructions
Evaluate each statement about your emotional intelligence on a scale of 1 _“not at all
like me” to 10 _“very much like me.” Try to be objective by viewing yourself through
the eyes of key people in your life such as family members, close friends, coworkers,
and classmates. (Note: This instrument is for instructional purposes only because it
was derived from a 25-item survey of unknown validity.)
___1. I usually stay composed, positive, and unflappable in trying situations.
___2. I am able to admit my own mistakes.
___3. I usually or always meet commitments and keep promises.
___4. I hold myself accountable for meeting my goals.
___5. I can smoothly handle multiple demands and changing priorities.
___6. Obstacles and setbacks may delay me a little, but they don’t stop me.
___7. I seek fresh perspectives, even if that means trying something totally new.
___8. My impulses or distressing emotions don’t often get the best of me at work.
___9. I usually don’t attribute setbacks to a personal flaw (mine or somebody else’s).
___10. I operate from an expectation of success rather than a fear of failure.
Total ______
Interpretation
A score below 70 indicates a need for improvement. With sincere effort, one’s emotional
intelligence can be improved. It is part of a natural process of “growing up” and
becoming mature in challenging social situations. People with low EQ scores are like
porcupines—they’re hard to hug.
For Consideration/Discussion
1. What do you like or dislike about the concept of emotional intelligence?
2. Have you ever worked with or for someone who had high emotional intelligence?
If so, describe them and rate their effectiveness. Do the same for someone with low
emotional intelligence.
3. What, if any, connection do you see between the concepts of emotional intelligence
and servant leader? Explain.
4. How could you improve your emotional intelligence in terms of the items on
this test?