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Anna Schosser14.04.202314 min read

Behavioral Intelligence vs Emotional Intelligence: How Are They Different?

 

The American Psychological Association states that 90% of top performers possess high levels of both BI and EI skills.

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, it is essential to understand the differences between behavioral intelligence (BI) and emotional intelligence (EI).

BI focuses on understanding how we think and act in response to our environment while EI concentrates on understanding our emotions, motivations, and interpersonal relationships.

Both are important skills for successful leaders in any organization. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between these two types of intelligence, which are more important, how they are measured, and how they can. potentially improved. We will also share tips on how you can use them together to maximize your success in the workplace.

 

What's in this post?

What is Behavioral Intelligence?

Behavioral intelligence is more than just an understanding of human behavior. It involves being able to interpret the behavior of others and adjust your own accordingly in order to achieve desired results. Behavioral intelligence is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts, intentions, and actions are all interconnected and can be used to effectively influence our environment.

In essence, behavioral intelligence is like a superpower that can help you understand and influence the behavior of those around you. It's the ability to recognize how people think, feel, and act—and then use this knowledge to your advantage in any situation. Behavioral intelligence gives you an edge in communication, relationships, negotiations, and more. By learning about behavioral intelligence, you can become a master of interpersonal dynamics – both at work and in life.

For example, if you are trying to persuade someone to take a certain course of action, understanding their emotional state and using that knowledge to craft an effective argument can be incredibly powerful.

By understanding behavioral intelligence, you can become a master of interpersonal dynamics – both in your professional life and personal life. It is a highly valuable skill that can help you achieve success in a variety of situations. In addition, by recognizing the power of BI and using it to your advantage, you can become an effective leader who is able to influence your team and others around them in a positive way.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand, use, and manage emotions. It's about recognizing and understanding your own feelings as well as those of others so you can use this knowledge to make more informed decisions. Unlike behavioral intelligence, emotional intelligence doesn’t involve predicting or manipulating behavior; instead, it means connecting with people on a deeper level by being aware of both their thoughts and feelings. Emotional intelligence enables us to have meaningful conversations and relationships based on trust, respect, and empathy.

Emotional intelligence is not just about understanding emotions, it is also about using that knowledge to effectively regulate and manage them. This means being able to respond appropriately to the emotional needs of others, as well as our own. It involves recognizing and accepting our own emotions and those of other people without judgment and being able to use this knowledge to make sound decisions.

Emotional intelligence is an essential skill for anyone in a leadership role. It helps leaders better understand their teams and how to motivate them effectively. It also allows them to create a safe environment where everyone can work together productively, without fear of judgment or criticism.

An example of emotional intelligence at work is a leader who is able to stay calm and composed even when faced with difficult situations. This leader takes the time to listen to their team's opinions and ideas, while also considering their own emotions before making any decisions. They are able to empathize with their team's feelings and recognize how different individuals may react differently in the same situation.

To read more about emotional intelligence and get more insights into what it is all about, click here

 

What is the difference between behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence?

Although they may seem similar at first glance, behavioral intelligence, and emotional intelligence are actually very different skill sets. Behavioral intelligence helps us predict the behavior of others, while emotional intelligence helps us build meaningful relationships based on trust and empathy.

Knowing how to use both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence is essential for success in the workplace and in real-life situations, as it can equip leaders with better strategies, help foster collaboration among team members, improve morale within the organization, create successful teams, and increase the chances of creating healthier relationships.

Improving both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence requires practice, self-awareness, focus, and dedication but it will pay off in the long run since having a strong understanding of these skills provides key advantages that make any individual or collective goal much more achievable. 

 

How are behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence measured?

Behavioral intelligence is often measured through observing and interpreting how people interact with each other. This could be done by looking at body language as well as verbal communication. By understanding how an individual behaves in certain situations, one can assess their behavioral intelligence. Additionally, surveys and questionnaires about a person's behavior can also help measure behavioral intelligence.

Some behavioral intelligence tests are: 

The Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI)  Assesses an individual’s personality traits such as how they interact with others, how well they handle stress, and their overall approach to problem-solving.
The Cognitive Ability Test  Evaluates an individual’s cognitive abilities such as their logic, math skills, and ability to learn new information quickly.
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal  Evaluates an individual's ability to think analytically and make decisions.
The Emotional Quotient (EQ) test  Measures an individual's emotional intelligence which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, empathy, communication skills, etc.

 

As for emotional intelligence, it is typically assessed through self-report measures, psycho-motor tasks, or performance-based measures. Self-report measures are the most common type of assessment and involve completing a survey that asks questions about emotions and feelings, such as identifying one’s own emotions or another person’s emotions in different scenarios. Psycho-motor tasks require participants to act out their responses to various emotional stimuli while performance-based measures focus on nonverbal responses such as facial expressions or vocalizations.

Tools such as the Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) are designed to measure both emotional and social skills related to emotional intelligence. The MSCEIT consists of a series of questions that ask for the participant's perception of the importance of certain emotions when faced with different scenarios and provides feedback about how those emotions are affecting their behavior.

Overall, measuring behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence can provide valuable insights into how someone interacts within relationships and their environment more generally. It can provide individuals with insight into how they can better manage their own behavior in various situations, leading to improved confidence in handling interpersonal relationships and navigating difficult conversations or situations more effectively.

You can also read more about behavioral intelligence tests here! 

 

Why are behavioral Intelligence & emotional Intelligence important?

Behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence are both important for success in the workplace and in real-life situations. Behavioral intelligence enables us to recognize and predict the behavior of others, giving us an edge in communication, relationships, negotiations, and more. It helps us understand how people think, feel, and act so we can use this knowledge to our advantage. Emotional intelligence helps us build meaningful relationships based on trust and empathy by recognizing our own feelings as well as those of others.

Having a strong understanding of behavioral and emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership. Leaders who have these skills are better equipped to foster collaboration among their team members and create a productive working environment. They also have an easier time developing strategies that will help their teams reach common goals since they can anticipate any behavioral issues that could arise while leading. In addition, they’re able to provide feedback that is both constructive and encouraging which leads to stronger morale among employees.

Knowing how to use both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence also increases the likelihood of creating successful teams because it allows managers to create connections between team members that aren’t just based on job roles or responsibilities but also on understanding each other emotionally. This encourages:

  • Honest communication.
  • Healthy conflict resolution.
  • Loyalty.
  • Trustworthiness.
  • Respect for each other’s ideas.
  • Higher productivity levels within the organization as a whole.
  • Better customer service from everyone involved.

In addition to helping in the workplace setting, having a good grasp of behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence is key for achieving success in real-life situations like relationships with family members or personal projects at home.

behavioral intelligence versus emotional intelligence with two women sitting at office desk discussing together

How can behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence be improved?

Behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence can be improved by understanding the behavior of others and recognizing one's own emotions. It is important to practice empathy and try to understand why people act the way they do. Paying attention to how your own behavior affects those around you is also important. Additionally, it is beneficial to have meaningful conversations with people and learn from their experiences. Finally, taking some time for self-reflection can help in understanding yourself better which in turn will lead to more effective communication with others.

Behavioral intelligence can be improved by thinking about how people act and why they do what they do. Pay attention to how your behavior affects others. Talk to people and learn from them. Take some time for yourself too, so you can understand yourself better and communicate with others more effectively.

Emotional intelligence can be improved by being aware of your own emotions and the emotions of others. Try to be open and honest with yourself so that you can better understand why you may have certain reactions to different things. Additionally, take time to reflect on how your own behavior affects those around you so that you can act in a way that is more compassionate and understanding.

 

Behavioral intelligence vs. emotional intelligence: which is more important?

The debate of whether behavioral intelligence or emotional intelligence is more important has been around for many years. Both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence are necessary for effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making in the workplace. While both play an important role, there are certain cases where one may be more beneficial than the other.

Behavioral Intelligence focuses on analyzing the behaviors of individuals and groups to better understand patterns and how they interact with each other. It helps in predicting the likelihood of future events based on past behaviors through data-based models. For example, it can be used to identify trends in customer behavior or sales cycles which can then be used to better allocate resources or formulate strategies that will optimize performance.

Emotional Intelligence, on the other hand, focuses on understanding one’s own emotions as well as those of others. It is about being aware and respectful of different feelings which allows us to respond more appropriately to situations that arise throughout our day-to-day lives. This is incredibly helpful in forming meaningful relationships with coworkers and customers as it requires a deep understanding of individuals' values, beliefs, motivations, etc. instead of simply relying on rules or facts alone.

Overall, both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence are necessary for success in the workplace but each plays a slightly different role depending on the situation at hand.

When it comes to making decisions or working through complex problems that involve multiple people, a good blend of these two skills is essential in order to come up with an optimal solution that everyone can agree upon. Additionally, having an understanding of oneself as well as others is key when it comes to creating meaningful relationships with coworkers or customers which further promotes healthy communication among team members and leads to higher morale over time. Ultimately both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence play a critical part when it comes to success in work settings so investing time into honing these skills should not be overlooked.

Tips: How to implement behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence for workplace success

  • Use behavioral intelligence to track and analyze data on customer behaviors, employee performance, or company trends
  • Leverage emotional intelligence to build meaningful relationships with customers and coworkers
  • Focus on understanding each person’s motivations in order to create clear communication between all parties involved
  • Set clear expectations of behavior for employees and hold them accountable when necessary
  • Incorporate self-reflection into team activities so that everyone can better understand how their actions affect others
  • Take the initiative to improve behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence skills in order to stand out among peers and colleagues

In conclusion, both behavioral intelligence and emotional intelligence are critical for success in the workplace. While they may seem like two separate concepts, they actually go hand-in-hand and should be used together to achieve the best results. Investing time in honing these skills will pay off in the long run and build a strong foundation for successful relationships both internally within a team and externally with customers.

Retorio has a learning and development product that can help you understand how to train your employees by using behavior intelligence. Behavioral intelligence tests measure an individual's cognitive abilities like problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making as well as personality traits like assertiveness, flexibility, and empathy. With our product, you can learn how to use behavior intelligence effectively for employee development programs that get the best results! Click on the button below to get try it out! 

 

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Key Takeaways

  • Behavioral Intelligence focuses on analyzing the behaviors of individuals and groups to better understand patterns and how they interact with each other.
  • Emotional Intelligence is about being aware and respectful of different feelings which allow us to respond more appropriately to situations that arise throughout our day-to-day lives.
  • Both BI and EI are necessary for success in the workplace but each plays a slightly different role depending on the situation.
  • Having an understanding of oneself as well as others is key when it comes to creating meaningful relationships with coworkers or customers which further promotes healthy communication among team members and leads to higher morale over time.
  • Investing time into honing these skills should not be overlooked as it is a great way to stand out among your peers or colleagues.

 

FAQ

 

1. What is an example of behavioral intelligence?

Behavioral intelligence is the ability to use cognitive, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to make decisions. It involves analyzing situations from multiple perspectives and making decisions that best align with an individual's goals. Examples of behavioral intelligence include critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills. Behavioral Intelligence Tests are a powerful tool used by employers to assess an individual's analytical thinking and decision-making capabilities.

These tests measure cognitive abilities such as problem-solving as well as personality traits like flexibility and empathy in order to gain insight into how employees approach tasks from a mental, emotional, and behavioral perspective. By understanding an employee’s current skill set through a comprehensive BI Test with tips from experts in Talent Development companies can tailor their training programs for the most effective outcomes while staying up-to-date on the best e-learning platforms and practices within a limited budget.

2. What is behavioral intelligence?

Behavioral intelligence is the ability to use cognitive, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to make decisions. It involves analyzing situations from multiple perspectives and making decisions that best align with an individual's goals.

3. What are some examples of behavioral skills?

Critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, creativity, flexibility, assertiveness, and empathy are some examples of behavioral skills in everyday life. 

4. What are the 4 types of emotional intelligence? 

Emotional intelligence is an important part of behavioral intelligence and can be separated into four distinct categories. The four types of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, and empathy.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions and reactions. This skill can help an individual gain insight into how they respond to different situations and identify potential challenges or areas of growth. 

Self-regulation involves controlling and managing emotions in order to make sound decisions under pressure. This skill requires identifying potentially challenging situations before they arise and developing strategies for dealing with them effectively when needed. 

Social skills encompass a wide range of abilities related to interacting with others such as communication, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution. 

Finally, empathy is the capacity for understanding how others feel without having experienced similar circumstances themselves.

 

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Anna Schosser

I create engaging and informative content about the importance of artificial intelligence and video-based AI technology for recruitment. I discuss cutting-edge AI developments and new technology with storytelling skills.

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