When we were young, a high intelligence quotient (IQ) usually helped in easy enrollment at a high quality university or college.
Moreover, people with a high IQ tended to get first jobs faster and easier.
But the easy ride didn't always last, and high-IQ students often failed to achieve a high position. What happened to these intelligent people?
Every company has its criteria for promoting employees to higher positions. But in many cases, reaching a top executive position requires a positive attitude, professionalism and a good sense of humour. Simply having a high IQ is not enough. You also need a high emotional quotient, or EQ.
IBM Thailand's managing director Parnsiree Amatayakul is a strong believer in the value of high EQ. When high-EQ skills are used in an organisation, its culture changes, and people become happier, more productive and more fruitful, she says.
Seeing the value of EQ as a trainable skill, Parnsiree sends her oldest son, Purit (Todd), to
the Cub Scouts of America in the hope that he will learn new things, discover and master new skills, gain self-confidence and develop strong friendships.
"I don't believe in after-school tutoring. I believe in the foundation of EQ. So, I prefer my son to join the activities of the Cub Scouts so that he can learn about discipline and recognise its value," she says.
Unlike many parents, Parnsiree never helps her son with his schoolwork or assignments. On the other hand, she teaches him that being a winner is not easy and that much effort is required to succeed.
Last year, Parnsiree suffered an injury and was admitted to hospital. At the same time, her son was looking forward to a bike-riding trip with the Cub Scouts for which he had been practising very hard. But he willingly cancelled the trip to care for his mother, after his father explained that the real objective of the Cub Scouts was caring for other people.
Even though Todd missed his big day, he wore a bigger smile when he learned that his fellow Cub Scouts appreciated what he did and offered him a special reward for looking after his mother. He was very proud to have made the right decision.
Parnsiree was even happier, as a lady who teaches all around her the value of caring for others, both at work and at home.
"No matter where you are in your personal life or career, what industry you are in, or where you are in your organisation, you definitely want to perform well. At the centre of high-performance is good decision-making. Whether the decisions are considered small or large, or whether they impact one person or thousands, they need reasonable judgment. And this is why understanding your EQ is so important," she says.
Sasikarn Watthanachan is a communications professional.
She may be contacted at
