Emotional intelligence or knowing and managing emotions is one of the most important tools of success in professional and personal life. Accepting, embracing and managing our own feelings and behavior and being able to cope with the surroundings despite what it throws at us is emotional intelligence. Our mind creates a world of it's own. We have to have a strong willpower to get out of the negativities when we are not getting what we expect. Since most human beings hold hopes and high expectations, they also tend to get disappointed easily. And that's when emotional intelligence plays its role in our life to overcome the obstacles of disappointment and move on. I would say we know we are emotionally intelligent when we accept the failure, learn from it and try again differently with hopes of succeeding without getting stuck onto the previous failure.

I believe that in general, any type of leadership roles require having an excellent EI. Both sales and marketing department employees have to face their audiences to advertise, sell and satisfy their customer needs. In the process of selling and marketing their products, the employees have to go through anxiety and frustrations at times because their product is not selling or business is probably failing. And that's when EI comes into play. Out of 50 customers, maybe only 10-20 customers will agree to buy their products. Therefore, it is important to have EI to move on and keep trying to sell their products even after going through the customer pull and not being able to make as much money. 

Medical devices are very expensive. Coming up with a device, making it approved by FDA and finally releasing it for customer needs requires a of lot time, effort and expenses. Therefore, sales and marketing departments have to be very technical and knowledgeable about advertising and selling their products and also making sure that the customers are happy with their products. They have to come up with ways on how to make more profit while being loyal to the customers. But still they will have to face customer complaints and be prepared to handle them properly. Hence, EI is a must for marketing department especially for customer controls and transparency. On the other hand, selling the product requires manipulating customer's mind in many cases so they can get persuaded to buy the products. 

Emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize and control one's own and others' emotions. EI is someone I admire. The impact of people's emotions on job efficiency is significant. To illustrate, if a worker is in a bad mood, he/she can be less enthusiastic about his/her work. Furthermore, having strong EI also means that the person can recognize other people's emotions, which is a significant selling advantage. Since the salesperson can recognize the buyers' emotional request for a product when they develop it. When a buyer buys a t-shirt, for example, he/she might not buy it only because they need it, but he/she might buy it because he/she enjoys a Disney animated character on the cup or a marvel hero. He/ she may also purchase it because it was worn by a well-known actor or celebrity.

A key to success is the ability to manage yourself well. Personal management is perhaps one of the most underdeveloped tools of an individual yet highly sought after professionally and publicly. Yesterday I saw some clips of Ketanji Brown Jackson's hearing to be sworn in as the next supreme court justice and realized that she has a high EQ and IQ. It is very necessary to have both an intelligence quotient and an emotional quotient. EQ is the ability to manage, identify, assess, and control one’s emotions and the emotions of others. IQ is the ability to understand and apply information to logical reasoning, skills, spatial thinking, etc. A person who has a high-level EQ is a Leaders and team player. A person who has a high-level IQ is a highly gifted or capable individual. In the business world, many companies put in place mandatory emotional intelligence training and utilize emotional intelligence tests in the hiring process. Emotional intelligence is an important quality for business leaders and managers. The term “emotional intelligence” was coined in 1990 by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer. "EI refers to our ability to understand moods, behaviors, and impulses, and control them to match a particular situation."

Emotional intelligence is commonly defined by four attributes:

1. Self-management– You’re able to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.
2. Self-awareness– You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. You know your strengths and weaknesses and have self-confidence.
3. Social awareness– You have empathy. You can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization.
4. Relationship management– You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.

You can take a quiz is to see if you have EI and what your EQ level is in the link below. Emotional Quotient (EQ) Test - Take the Emotional Intelligence Test of Nicholas Hall (psycho-tests.com)

Recently my husband and I took a few self-development courses and learning about EQ has been a great investment in our marriage. I believe it is important for individuals to add tools to their personal toolbox to be the best version of themselves. As I watched the supreme court hearings I saw the skill and tools in Ketanji Brown Jackson being used with precision and ease as she has developed and cultivated her IQ and EQ.

For the marketing side of business establishing a strong foundation in EQ will help build customer relations and corporate relations that hold a viable commitment to constant growth and continued support.

Medical Device Marketing requires both IQ and EQ. To market the product well for a consumer such as a patient as well as a professional such as a doctor the team must be able to communicate effectively and with a level of empathy to have a well-received message about a new medical device. 

Emotional intelligence (EI) is your ability to understand and use your emotions positively, for example, to communicate, show empathy, or solve problems with others[1]. This represents your ability to get along and talk with people you do not know or how much of a "people person" you are. You know if you have it if in your daily life you are good at having conversations with people you do not know, calming other people down, you genuinely inspire trust and confidence in people. I think this is a hard concept to build up because it comes from your personality; if you genuinely are happier and more comfortable being alone and do not like talking to strangers it would be hard to build your EIQ up to someone who loves to be near people. I think the best way to build this up, however, would be to practice. Put yourself outside your comfort zone and get used to conversing with people and empathizing with their problems or needs by putting yourself in their shoes. I think in most professions, the ability to talk and empathize with people will bring you farther than any other skill you have. It is what makes someone a good leader, the ability to understand and talk to the people around them. 

In terms of selling success, as it was stated above the more you can relate and make friends with the people you are trying to sell to, the more you will sell. The more they trust you, the more willing they will be to listen to what you are trying to get them to buy. If you understand how people think and act, you will also have a leg-up in trying to market the product you are selling best. You would have a better idea of what people would want to know about the device, where they are going to search and would be ready to explain to them why this device will help them. In terms of medical devices, most people are not using these because they want to. They have a problem they need to have solved, and the more you can emphasize with their situation, and build trust with them that you want to see them better, the more likely they would be to trust you and your product. In a field where mentally believing in what you are using is half the battle, clients having faith in their product and the person selling it will only help you sell more products and help more people!

As a student, I've learned that emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions and those of others. It's a vital skill for both personal and professional success. Signs of high EI include being aware of your own emotions and how they affect your behavior, effectively managing emotions, empathizing with others, and building strong relationships.

Developing EI is achievable through self-awareness and practice. You can start by paying attention to your emotions and how they influence your actions, practicing emotional management in stressful situations, empathizing with others, and fostering strong relationships. EI is essential because it leads to success in various aspects of life, from career advancement to nurturing meaningful relationships and overall personal growth.

In the context of selling, EI plays a crucial role. Salespeople with high EI can connect with customers, grasp their needs, and adapt their sales strategies accordingly. They can handle rejection gracefully and stay motivated throughout the sales process. In marketing, EI is equally valuable. Marketers with high EI can understand their target audience's desires and create campaigns that resonate with them. They also excel in building relationships with customers and influencers.

When it comes to medical device sales and marketing, EI is particularly important due to the industry's intricacies and sensitivity. For instance, when selling to healthcare professionals, salespeople need to establish trust, grasp the unique challenges these professionals face, and present themselves as reliable partners. When marketing to patients, understanding their needs and fears is crucial, as is providing informative and supportive campaigns. Additionally, selling to hospitals and healthcare organizations involves navigating complex relationships and building consensus among decision-makers, where high EI can make a significant difference.

The Kidwell paper further substantiates the significance of EI in medical device sales. It shows that EI is a strong predictor of sales performance in this industry, especially for those selling complex products or dealing with multiple stakeholders. In conclusion, EI is a pivotal skill in medical device sales and marketing, facilitating trust-building, understanding customer needs, and effective communication of product benefits.