EQ Makes All the Difference in Communications and Marketing

The following article was cowritten by Chat GPT and Amy Marquis, who provided her expert perspective, prompt engineering, copywriting support and copyediting.

As a #communications professional, you know that the key to success is connecting with your audience. But when you really break it down, the most powerful tool for making those connections is not the latest marketing technology or the snappiest tagline, it's emotional intelligence.

#EmotionalIntelligence is the secret sauce that brings your messages to life. It's the ingredient that makes people stop and pay attention, that makes them remember your brand, that compels them to take action.

Research supports the idea that #EQ an essential life skill, especially in fields like communications where understanding and managing emotions is central to building and maintaining relationships with clients and coworkers. A study by TalentSmart in 2020 found that people with high emotional intelligence are 18% more likely to be successful in their careers. Forbes found that companies with high emotional intelligence outperform their peers by up to 29%, and a Deloitte study revealed emotional intelligence as the most important leadership skill for the future, with 71% of leaders believing it will be critical for success.

A high EQ makes a big difference in performance and results. Don't take it from me. Here's what some giants in the field had to say:

• "Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success." - Oprah Winfrey, Media Executive, Talk Show Host, and Philanthropist

• "Emotional intelligence is the key to successful communication. If you can't connect with people emotionally, you can't connect with them at all." - Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group

• “Emotional intelligence is the other kind of smart.” - Justin Timberlake, Musician, Actor and Entrepreneur

Imagine you're creating a #socialmedia campaign for a new product. You could spend all your time crafting the perfect message and selecting the most visually stunning images. But if you don't understand the emotional needs and desires of your target audience, your campaign is likely to fall flat. But if you start by understanding the emotional triggers that will resonate with your audience, your campaign will have a much better chance of success.

It's easy to see why emotional intelligence is a beneficial skill for any role, but it's an essential one for marketers and communications professionals. It allows you to tap into the emotions of your audience, which is essential for creating powerful and effective campaigns. So, take a deep dive into understanding the emotional needs and desires of your target audience, and remember, it's not just about what you say, it's about how you make people feel.

Do you think emotional intelligence can be learned and developed? When you think of EQ, who in your life comes to mind and how do they make use of that skill? How do you leverage your own emotional intelligence?

This article was originally published on LinkedIn.