7 Types of Intelligence That Shape Success

When we hear the word intelligence, most people immediately think of IQ-ability to calculate, analyze, and solve problems. On the other hand, success, whether in life or in business, is never defined solely by IQ.

It is said that there exist more than one form of intelligence, and sometimes one neglected kind is the one that determines whether a person grows forward or stays on the stagnant path. 

Let’s take them apart.

• IQ – Intellectual Intelligence
  Traditionally, it is taken as a measure of the ability to logically solve a problem. It helps us analyze patterns and plan strategies; it allows us to arrange things rationally. However, in chaotic or unpredictable circumstances, IQ may not be enough.
• EQ – Emotional Intelligence
  An EO is the ability to understand and manage emotions, both your own and those of others. High EQ enables people to stay calm and apply pressure to resolve conflicts and positively influence others. Often in leadership, EQ may matter more than IQ.
• SQ – Social Intelligence
  These are trust, networks, and strong relationships. A lone expert can accomplish much, yet the growth is limited without collaboration. It is SQ that converts individual talent into collective success.

• CQ – Cultural Intelligence
  In a global context, Cultural Understanding is another competitive advantage. CQ helps one to adjust to varied environments, respect differing values, and prosper where “one-world-may-fit-all” method fails.

• AQ – Adaptability Intelligence
  Change is constant, and the ability to adapt is essentially survival. AQ determines how fast one can adjust to a new environment, changing technologies, or challenges. The ones who resist change usually crack under pressure, as adaptability is a survival tool in the midst of uncertainties.
• TQ – Technology Intelligence
  The great accelerator is technology. TQ means knowing and working with a technology, be it AI, Automation, or any digital tool. TQ acts as the timekeeper-precluding brilliance from being brushed under wither fast winds of today.
• FQ–Financial Intelligence
  Every picture needs resources. FQ is the ability to manage money, investments, and financial risk. It is not about being selfish – but about survival and the physical manifestation of strategy.

Larger Context

No one type of intelligence will yield success by itself. Sometimes it is logic; sometimes it is flexibility; and other times it is relationships. The conjoined intelligence puts an individual in a balanced position of power. So, rather than asking, Which type is best, the pertinent question becomes: Which is your strength, and which others are you willing to work on?