Though many interview questions focus on the professional achievements and skills of an executive candidate, these are far from the only attributes worth evaluating. Interviewers need to ask questions that will help them figure out how a candidate will react when they need to be sensitive and honest.
Put another way, it's important for interviewers to track emotional intelligence when first looking at a possible executive hire. In a Business Insider piece on questions related to this effort, Jacquelyn Smith gives examples of the topics that interviewers can discuss, taken from Phil Johnson of Master of Business Leadership, Inc.
Some of these, like "How good are you at asking for help?" and "How good are you at accepting help from others?" highlight honesty and personal frailties. Others, like "How do you have fun?" seem frivolous but could reveal how a person relates to emotional situations.
Writing for Forbes, Travis Bradberry goes more in-depth and says that emotional intelligence forms the starting point for many important skills needed in the workplace, including teamwork, communication and decision-making. A person with a high emotional intelligence is better at relating to co-workers, among other things.
"Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack," he writes. "Emotional intelligence is the 'something' in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results."
To find someone who is adept in this area, businesses should work with an executive search firm. Knowing this means that your company will have a resourceful leader at the helm who isn't intimidated by unfamiliar emotional situations.
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