In today’s dynamic business landscape, emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ), has emerged as a crucial factor in effective leadership, especially in secured finance which relies on strong relationships and trust. The definition of EQ is: a measure of a person’s ability to understand, manage, and use their emotions.  The COVID pandemic brought these qualities into the limelight as the importance of compassion and support in the workplace became clear.  And the statistics back this up: Studies show that leaders with high EQ are 25-30% more likely to outperform their peers in key business metrics. Women, who often score higher in empathy and social skills, are well-positioned to leverage these EQ strengths. This article explores how prominent women leaders in secured finance, including Jennifer Palmer, CEO of JPalmer Collective, Bobbi Acord Noland, partner, Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, and Angela Fiorentino, CEO of AmeriFactors Financial Group, harness EQ to navigate challenges, build relationships, and drive success in their organizations.

• Emotional intelligence has been shown to have a significant impact on various aspects of organizational performance, including the bottom line. Consider these statistics:
• A study by Daniel Goleman found that companies that prioritize emotional intelligence in their culture and leadership have a 21% higher profitability than those that do not.
• Salespeople with high EQ are 39% more likely to hit their targets than those with lower EQ. According to a study by TalentSmart, 90% of top performers in sales possess high EQ.
• Another study by the Hay Group found that sales teams with emotionally intelligent leaders increased sales by 20%. A Harvard Business Review study revealed that companies with employees scoring high on EQ had a 90% employee retention rate, compared to only 67% for companies with lower EQ scores. This translates to significant cost savings and a more talented, engaged workforce.
• Employees with high EQ are also up to 4x more likely to be promoted than those with lower EQ, highlighting the role of emotional intelligence in career development and retention.
• Companies with high emotional intelligence culture experience a 30% decrease in workplace conflicts, as reported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• According to a Harvard Business Review study, companies that prioritize emotional intelligence in their customer service teams see a 50% improvement in customer retention.

These statistics demonstrate that EQ is not just a “soft skill,” but a critical driver of measurable business outcomes. Investing in developing emotional intelligence can lead to improvements in everything from sales and productivity to employee retention and customer satisfaction, directly impacting the bottom line.

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