Enhancing IQ with EQ at StepStone
| Pages | 4-9 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14754390810847496 |
| Published date | 17 December 2007 |
| Date | 17 December 2007 |
| Author | Grant Crow |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
Enhancing IQ with EQ at StepStone
Grant Crow
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss why emotional intelligence is important for all
organizations.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper outlines the program the author developed for his own
team and explains how it realized the tangible benefits of organic growth, improved customer
satisfaction and consistent customer retention rates that mean that the program is soon to be rolled out
to the wider organization.
Findings – The implementation of the individual development plan for the client services director led to
a number of identified competence gaps being closed or improved upon, as was identified during the
gap analysis. The results clearly show significant improvements in the area of emotional intelligence.
Originality/value – The paper discusses why emotional intelligence is important forall organizations.
Keywords Emotional intelligence, Intelligence quotient
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Dr Grant Crow, managing director of StepStone ExecuTRACK, discusses why emotional
intelligence is important for all organizations. He outlines the program he developed for his
own team and explains how it realized the tangible benefits of organic growth, improved
customer satisfaction and consistent customer retention rates that mean the program is soon
to be rolled out to the wider organization.
StepStone is probably more in tune with talent management as a major business issue than
most organizations. As a provider of talent management solutions, it is our entire raison
d’e
ˆtre. We have the same needs as any of our customers in terms of attracting, recruiting,
developing and retaining good employees by giving them the right mixture of development
opportunities linked to ongoing performance and career management. As StepStone
expands and the talent management industry matures and competition intensifies, it is
particularly important for our people to improve their relationship management capabilities
by developing greater levels of emotional intelligence.
The growing importance of EQ in IT
People who work in IT very often struggle against the ‘‘geek’’ stereotype and we can come
across as being very focused and intense. This occurs because we work in a world that has
a very specific vocabulary and structure, which is totally different from that of the real world.
The focus of our work has traditionally been on achieving technical excellence and ensuring
that the systems we deploy physically do what the customer wants. This is obviously still
totally relevant, but the emphasis is shifting.
Over the past few years the marketplace for software applications, which essentially focuses
on human capital management, has become highly competitive. To sustain growth levels,
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VOL. 7 NO. 1 2008, pp. 4-9, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1475-4398 DOI 10.1108/14754390810847496
Grant Crow is based at
StepStone ExecuTRACK,
London, UK.
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