Personality is dramatically more important than emotional intelligence

240722 Personality is dramatically more important than emotional intelligence

I recently read this article in Fast Company Magazine by Richard Davis:5 tips to effectively judge people using personality science from an organizational psychologist.  The article is excellent and corrects what is the biggest mistake made by practitioners of Emotional Intelligence.

Richard Davis, is an organizational psychologist and managing director at Russell Reynolds Associates, who argues that insight into personality is significantly more important than emotional intelligence (EQ). He challenges the widely accepted notion that EQ is essential for understanding people, stating that the scientific research does not support its purported importance. Davis explains that the original concept of EQ, introduced by psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer, focused on the ability to recognize and understand emotions. However, Daniel Goleman’s popularization of EQ in his book “Emotional Intelligence” altered the concept, emphasizing dispositions like empathy and social acumen without sufficient scientific backing.

Davis asserts that while emotions are transient and can be helpful in understanding people, personality traits are enduring and more predictive of behaviour. He emphasizes that understanding someone’s core personality is more valuable than focusing on their emotional states. To aid in this understanding, Davis introduces the Personality Blueprint, a method based on a century of research in personality psychology. This blueprint categorizes personality into five key traits: intellect, sociability, emotionality, drive, and diligence. By using these categories, individuals can gain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of others, which is crucial for making informed business decisions and fostering effective workplace relationships.

The article was yet another demonstration to me that the best and most rapid way to improve your emotional intelligence is not to focus on emotions but to undergo a paradigm shift and focus the genetic drivers of your emotions.  Davis uses a tool he has developed called the Personality Blueprint; in my case it is the 7MTF.  Both models use the Big Five as their base.

The Big Five model was developed in the 1990s and identified five factors:

  • openness to experience (creativity, imagination, curiosity, and a willingness to try new things.)
  • conscientiousness (motivation, dependability, carefulness, and responsibility)
  • extraversion (energetic and thrive on social interactions and physical experiences)
  • agreeableness (compassionate, soft-hearted, trusting, well-liked, helpful and cooperative.)
  • neuroticism (restless, nervous. excitability. uneasiness. agitation. edginess)

For me the Personality Blueprint factors overlap with the Big Five as follows:

  • Intellect with Openness (high)
  • Sociability with Extraversion (high)
  • Emotionality with Neuroticism (high)
  • Drive with Conscientiousness (high)
  • Diligence with Conscientiousness (high)

As you can see Conscientiousness scores twice and Agreeableness misses out.

 

On the other hand 7MTF Model overlaps with Big Five :

Openness (Artist), Conscientiousness (Engineer), Extraversion (Socialiser), Agreeableness (Doublechecker), Neuroticism (Regulator)

and the Personality Blueprint very well:

  • Intellect with Artist (high),
  • Sociability with Socialiser (high)
  • Emotionality with Regulator (high)
  • Drive with Politician (high)
  • Diligence with Engineer (high)

Another difference is that the 7MTF is a model of Temperament and not of Personality,

Temperament is biologically determined and present early in life. It’s made up of inborn physical, mental, and emotional traits that influence how a person interacts with their environment. Temperamental traits can be identified in early childhood, such as anxiety, extraversion-introversion, and stimulus-seeking.  In the 7MTF the seven factors are determined where you sit on the spectra of the seven most common mental illnesses.

Personality is a product of the social environment and develops gradually over time. It’s made up of characteristics and qualities that are acquired throughout life, such as thoughts, preferences, behaviours, traits, beliefs, interests, drives, values, abilities, emotional patterns, and self-concept. Personality describes “what” a person does or “why” they do things.

So while I don’t have the reputation and experience  of Davis, I still think the 7MTF is the better model.

For more information watch this 4-minute video introduction to the 7MTF.  If that whets you appetite  sign up to my Introduction to the 7MTF online-video course that takes only 5 hours to complete and an investment of only A$25.  The 7MTF model of temperament is the secret to lifting your emotional intelligence.  If you complete the basic 7MTF course you will dramatically increase your EQ competency in days.

Or if you want a more personal touch where you and I meet on-line for six coaching sessions read what is offered here.

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Chris Golis - Author

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"Put in a sales perspective, I loved your presentation! I got a lot from what you talked about and I will read your book."

Peter Morris, Executive Officer, Lomax Financial Group

Your presentation on 'Lifting your Level of Emotional Intelligence" to 10 CEOs scored an average 8.9 out of 10 for the topic and 8.5 for the presentation which is great. A couple of the attendees gave you a 10 out of 10, and the comments were:

- Great presentation. Very informative.

- Excellent presentation.

- made me think.

Christi Spring CEO Institute. - web www.ceo.com.au.