Managers who are extroverts are likely to be rated as more emotionally
intelligent than their introverted peers, according to research from the Centre
for Management and Policy Studies.
Roy Howells, a training consultant at CMPS, who carried out the research,
has collected data from 180 middle to senior civil service managers who
attended emotional intelligence (EQ) training at the Civil Service College.
Each manager had their EQ assessed by their bosses and colleagues. They also
completed a self-assessment exercise on their management style.
When Howells put the two together, he found that managers who scored
themselves as extrovert and flexible, and who said they based decisions more on
values than analysis, were rated as the most emotionally intelligent.
"Just because you are introverted doesn’t mean you don’t have the same
emotional awareness and empathy as your colleagues, but you have to express it
if you want them to recognise your EQ," Howells told Training Magazine.
He is now using the research findings in the EQ training that CMPS offers at
the Civil Service College to help participants develop and hone their EQ.
"These results suggest that what people appreciate from their managers is
dialogue," Howells said.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
"Introverted managers need to speak up a bit more. And if you tend to
be more analytical, you need to work on understanding your own and other
people’s values. We are not talking about changing someone’s personality but
about being more flexible. Introverts are often very good listeners. We don’t
want them to lose this skill, instead we want extroverts to learn from
them."
By Lucie Carrington
