What Does The EQ-i 2.0 Measure?

To help leaders and professionals develop their emotional intelligence skills, I believe they need to have at least two important factors involved; a relevant framework and useful data.  At the core of the EQ-i 2.0 you will find the conceptual framework illustrated below which is based on the original work of Dr. Reuven Bar-On. Blending his work with recent advances in research have resulted in a deeper understanding of what emotional intelligence is, how we talk about it, how it shows up behaviorally and how it can be developed. These insights have led to the refinement of the working definition of emotional intelligence which is:

…a set of emotional and social skills that influence the way we perceive and express ourselves, develop and maintain social relationships, cope with challenges, and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way.

The value of this definition is reflected in a client’s behaviors at the composite level and further enhanced by a clear understanding of the interconnectedness of the 15 different emotional intelligence skills that comprise the EQ-i 2.0.

It is important that executive coaches, consultants, counselors, and practitioners understand that although it is a significant predictor of personal and professional success and well-being, emotional intelligence does not operate in a vacuum.

Emotional intelligence combines with other important attributes, such as genetic predispositions, cognitive capacity, trained skills, motivation, and environmental factors, all of which together influence one’s potential for success and happiness.  

The framework from which the EQ-i 2.0 is derived identifies 15 separate but related factors that provide structure for the meaningful interpretation of the interaction between a person and his or her environment.

When compared with other emotional intelligence assessments, the 15 subscales or skills that support the EQ-i framework are all related and interconnected which help people navigate the complexities of their professional lives. A skilled coach or consultant is able to translate and to discuss the EQ-i data and subscales in a way that his or her clients are able to appreciate their current strengths while seeing opportunities for growth.  

Over the years, I have regularly seen clients gain tremendous personal insights while also being professionally validated based on their EQ-i report debrief sessions.

Below is an illustration of the interconnection of the emotional intelligence skills measured by the EQ-i 2.0.