A great answer to this question would include defining emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of others. The candidate should mention the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, highlighting how it facilitates effective communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration. They should touch on the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership capabilities, team dynamics, and overall organizational culture.
The candidate could reference the Goleman model of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, to structure their answer and provide a comprehensive view of the topic. It would be beneficial to share personal experiences or examples that demonstrate how emotional intelligence has positively influenced their work performance or relationships with colleagues. Finally, the candidate should emphasize the value of emotional intelligence in driving employee motivation, engagement, and overall job satisfaction.