The fourth distinction

Intelligence Quotient – Mental Intelligence (IQ)

An umbrella term

The word “intelligence” is now an umbrella term, used to describe not only the property of a person’s mental capacities, but also his or her spiritual, (SQ) emotional, (EQ) and physical (PQ) capacities as well (as we have seen, in the definitions of the other three quotients, already discussed).

IQ is a score derived from one of several different standardised tests designed to assess mental agility.  IQ is essentially a measure of one’s mental capacity; a function of the brain, through the use of one’s ability to think & solve mathematical problems; and to reason logically.

IQ now considered the least important

Recent research triggered by Daniel Goleman’s work indicates quite clearly that of the four intelligences, IQ is the least important in terms of the skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

You only need what you need to achieve your goals

This is not in any way saying that IQ is no longer important. If you want to be a rocket scientist or become a professor of mathematics, at a top international university, then of course, your IQ will certainly need to be way above average. 

But in today’s world, Daniel Goleman’s work has shown that it’s now social rather than technical skills that will be far more likely to get you to the top of your field; or to empower you to successfully run a multi billion dollar international public enterprise.

Reference: Daniel Goleman’s “Emotional Intelligence” & Wikipedia

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