IQ, EQ, SQ and an Orange…

Whenever I get asked about the difference between IQ (Intellectual intelligence – HEAD), EQ (Emotional intelligence – HEART) and SQ (Spiritual intelligence – WISDOM).

I often refer to Danah Zohar’s description below

Our intellectual or rational intelligence is what we use to solve logical or strategic problems. Psychologists devised tests for measuring it and these became the means for scoring people into degrees of intelligence, known as their intelligence quotient or IQ., that could allegedly signpost their abilities. The higher a persons IQ, the theory went, the higher their intelligence

EQ gives us our awareness of our own and other peoples feelings. ItĀ gives us empathy, compassion, motivation and the ability to respond appropriately to pain or pleasure. As Daniel Goleman pointed out, EQ is a basic requirement for the effective use of IQ

The full picture of human intelligence can be completed with a discussion of our spiritual intelligence or SQ. By SQ I mean the intelligence with which we address and solve problems of meaning and value, the intelligence with which we can place our actions and our lives in a wider, richer, meaning giving content, the intelligence with which we can assess that one course of action or one life path is more meaningful than another. SQ is the necessary foundation for the effective functioning of both IQ and EQ. It is our ultimate intelligence.

So that is the scientific explanation and since many of us are not scientists I have a real world example for you….

Two children come to a parent asking for them to sort a problem, in fact it is an argument over an orange. There is only one and both children want it

Using their IQ the parent says, “Since you can’t stop arguing I will take the orange away”, believing that this will stop the argument by removing the source of it and the children will soon find something else to argue over anyway!

Using their EQ the parent recognises that there is a way everyone gets something from this situation and they cut the orange in half giving both children one half each. The children are happy and the parent gets some peace for a while

Using SQ the parent becomes inquisitive and asks what each child chooses to do with the orange. One child says they will make marmalade and they require the rind to give it the bitter sweet taste they love. The other child is thirsty and a drink of orange juice would quench their thirst. Thus the first child grates the orange peel before the second squeezes the juice. In this way both children get twice as much as before, the parent deepens the bond with their children and encourages them to discuss problems and differences Ā instead of arguing, which may also lead to less refereeing in the future

Each and every one of us has access to SQ and yet we may forget to use it and as the saying goes “if you don’t use it you lose it”

Imagine how Consciously Conn3cting with your SQ could help you in both your personal life and at work

To understand more about how it could work for you use the form below to Conn3ct with Paul