Importance of Emotional Quotient in Career and Professional Development - Article by Farzad Minoo Damania in Parsi Times

Hi Friends,

Check out my article in Parsi Times Newspaper dated 16^th March 2013, discussing the importance of Emotional Quotient (EQ) in Career and Professional Development titled “Don’t Be So Dhuh!”.

Article Title: Importance of Emotional Quotient in Career and Professional Development (Title - Don’t Be So Dhuh!)

Article Date: 16^th March, 2013

Article on: Parsi Times Newspaper

Article Author: Farzad Minoo Damania

You can read the entire transcript of the article below:

So we have all heard of Intelligence Quotient and how it is calculated and how it is important. It is time to refresh our image of what is important while applying and holding down a job or business and apply the concept of Emotional Quotient to the equation. PT. Writer Farzad M. Damania kick starts the conversation.

Since many years, there have been exciting debates and discussions on whether Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is the best measure of student’s abilities; or should we also look at Emotional Quotient (EQ) while making a career decision.

Before going into discussion of EQ versus IQ, let me briefly talk about these two terms.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) attempts to measure one’s cognitive capacity and functioning, such as ability to learn, recall, think, reason and apply. IQ is the score derived from one of several standardized tests that assess intelligence. IQ measures concepts like logical reasoning, verbal reasoning, spatial ability, and math skills. People with high IQ may be able to grasp and learn certain subjects very easily and often have great academic success.

Emotional Quotient (EQ) also referred as Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to perceive, identify, understand, express and control emotions of oneself and of others. Thus, EQ addresses the emotional, social and personal dimensions of intelligence, which are play an important role in daily functioning of an individual. People with high EQ can often better identify and control their own emotions, and easily identify emotional situations in others to adjust their behavior accordingly. It has been observed that people with high EQ are self-confident, assertive, decisive, self-aware, enthusiastic, patient, meticulous and consistent.

So, is IQ the deciding factor of one’s success? Suppose you hire two employees in your company with identical IQ levels. Do you think they will perform equally well when they are put in an environment of stress or ambiguity? They might respond differently depending on their abilities to cope with their environment.  Hence, EQ also plays a significant role in the way an individual reacts to situations; and thus plays an important role in success or failure of an individual.

Research shows that IQ peaks around the age of 17, and wanes during old age. On the other hand, EQ rises through the age of 40’s and then tapers a bit. High levels of EQ are associated with strong social skills. Students need to develop the EQ skills which are important in their maturation process. If you do not work on your EQ skills, then you might be left in a situation where you have the intelligence to functionally work on a given task, but do not have the emotional skills to successfully work, thus limiting your true potential.

It has been observed that students with very high IQ and high grades in their school sometimes fail to succeed in their work environment or in their relationships, due to lack of necessary EQ skills. So can we work on our EQ skills or can EQ be improved? Yes we can definitely work on them.

Here are few pointers that can help you.

Reduce Stress: You should be able to recognize and spot your stress triggers. Identify your stress response and discover methods to deal with them.

Understand Others: The best way to understand other people’s feelings is to be observant and curious. Do not make any judgments or jump to any conclusions. Put yourself in that person’s shoes and try to understand the person’s feelings.

Be open-minded: A narrow mind is generally an indicator of low EQ.  Being open to ideas, opinions and thoughts of others can help.

Know Thyself: Once you know yourself, you can recognize your emotions and how they affect your behavior and thought process. Being self-aware can help you handle yourself in an efficient way.

Be a good communicator: You need to work on your verbal as well as non-verbal communication. Often, what you say is less important than how you say it. Also, non verbal communication in form of gestures, posture, pitch, and eye contact matter in effective communication.

Think Logically: Be more analytical in your approach. Rational thinking can help tremendously in improving your EQ. Before making a decision, make sure you have taken into account all possibilities.

For overall development and success of an individual, both the intelligences are important, inter-connected and inter-dependent.

For all your career queries, reach out to me on farzad.damania@gmail.com or 9833971773.

Your feedback is highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Farzad Minoo Damania

Career Counsellor & Corporate Trainer 

Career Nurturer

http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.com

http://www.careernurturer.com

http://www.facebook.com/careernurturer

Email: farzad.damania@gmail.com  

Mob: 9833971773

Exam Stress - Just Beat It!!! - Newspaper Article by Farzad Minoo Damania

Hi Friends,

Check out my article on Parsi Times Newspaper dated 9th March 2013, on “Exam Stress - Just Beat It!!!”.

Article Title: Exam Stress – Just Beat It!!!

Article Date: 9^th March, 2013

Article on: Parsi Times Newspaper

Article Author: Farzad Minoo Damania

15 Tips to beat exam stress

You can read the entire transcript of the article below:

Board Exams have already started, anxiety and stress are the buzz words among students and parents. Students who experience exam stress may show the following symptoms: inability to sleep, irritable behaviour, loss of appetite, appearing depressed, feeling sick, unusual bad temper, restlessness, headache and stomach ache. 

Feeling stressed is a natural response to pressure. So here are 15 tips that will assist you beat exam stress...

Focus on Conceptual Study: It is very important to focus on conceptual study rather than rote learning. This helps in avoiding examination stress and also helps in the long run for better professional success.

Plan your study: Create a timetable and prioritise your study process. Chalk out a plan and divide time allotted for each subject judiciously. Put more emphasis on subjects where you are weak.

Find a dedicated study place: Get a study place which is relatively free from distraction. Avoid sitting near the television, computer, bed, or refrigerator. There is no harm in taking short breaks of 5 to 10 minutes after every hour of continuous study to optimize your concentration level.

Practise and solve previous year’s exam papers: It is a good exercise to solve good number of past question papers, as it makes you aware of the exam pattern, marking scheme, and helps you develop a good strategy to face the exam paper. This will also help in developing self-confidence.

Maintain a balanced diet:  A balanced diet is very important for your health. Avoid eating food that is high in fat, sugar and caffeine.  Avoid junk food during exams, it can spoil your health and all your efforts can go to waste. Avoid oily foods as it can make you feel lethargic. Do not skip your breakfast and dinner schedule.

Reach exam centre early: It would be wise to reach exam centre at least thirty minutes before exam time. This will help in reducing anxiety. If your exam centre is outside your school, you could visit your exam centre a day in advance so that you can plan your travel time accordingly.

Study Smartly: Make summary notes, keywords, tables, charts and diagrams; which help in improving your memorizing process. Re-learn difficult sections of your syllabus, and explain them to family or friends, which help in boosting your self-confidence.

Ask for help whenever needed: If you are feeling stressed or nervous, do not hesitate to ask for help. Talk to someone you trust such as parent, teacher, school counsellor, or friend; as they will be able to help you put things in perspective.

Avoid Negative Thinking: Negative thinking is one of the prime reasons for students undergoing stressful conditions. It is seen that your confidence is more important than your competence. Don’t think that your preparation is bad or not up to the mark. Go ahead and give your best shot.

Develop a Positive mindset: Maintain a positive “I can do it” attitude. Your stress and anxiety will be transformed into positive energy which will help you improve your performance at the exam hall. Keep telling yourself “I will do well”. Visualization is another method of keeping our mind calm and relaxed.

Try relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, simple exercises, dance, and music are some of the tools that can help you relax. But remember not to overdo it. These techniques are supposed to refresh you, and not tire you or wander your concentration process.

Get adequate sleep and rest: Do not over burden yourself. Your body needs adequate rest before your exam day. You need to take at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to recharge yourself.

Do not discuss paper after exam is over: A very common habit of students is to discuss the paper after the examination is over. This can lead to unnecessary stress, anxiety and depression if your answers do not match. It can lead to negative thinking, and can affect your morale for the remaining examinations.

Avoid comparing your abilities with your friends: Do not compare your level of revision with your friends.  Each one of us approaches revision in different ways, so just make sure you have chosen the method that works best for you.

Work hard and give your best: Hard work promotes self-belief and liberates you from stressful and negative thinking.

Best wishes to all students appearing for their board exam. 

For all your career queries, reach out to me on farzad.damania@gmail.com or 9833971773.

Your feedback is highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Farzad Minoo Damania

Career Counsellor & Corporate Trainer 

Career Nurturer

http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.com

http://www.careernurturer.com

http://www.facebook.com/careernurturer

Email: farzad.damania@gmail.com  

Mob: 9833971773

New Pattern for UPSC Main Exams from 2013

UPSC has made significant changes in the pattern and syllabus of the Main Exams of Civil Services Examination and these changes will be applicable from Main Exams 2013.

Note: The prelim examination for Civil Services by UPSC has remained unaltered. However, UPSC has decided to conduct the same prelim exam for students who want to join the Indian Forest Services. Thus there will be a common prelim exam paper for both Civil services and Indian Forest Services.

Here is the new pattern for UPSC Main Exams.

There will be a total of Seven Papers in Main Exams.

Paper – I

Section 1 – Essay (200 marks)

Section 2 – English Comprehension and English Précis writing (100 marks)

Paper – II

General Studies– I (250Marks)

Topic: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

Paper-III

General Studies –II (250 Marks)

Topic: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

Paper-IV

General Studies –III (250 Marks)

Topic: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Paper-V

General Studies –IV (250 Marks)

Topic: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Paper-VI

Optional Subject – Paper 1 (250 Marks)

Paper-VII

Optional Subject – Paper 2 (250 Marks)

Note: Candidates may choose any optional subject from among the list of subjects given in Group 1. However, a candidate can opt for the literature of a language, indicated in Group 2  below, as an optional subject, only if the candidate has graduated in the literature of that particular language as the main subject.

Group 1

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.

Group 2

Literature of any one of the following languages:

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili,

Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu,

Urdu, English.

Written Test Total (Paper I to VII): 1800 Marks

Personality Test: 275 Marks

Grand Total:  2075 Marks

For detailed information on this notification, syllabus, and pattern you can visit the UPSC link below:

http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/notifications/2013/csp_ifs/csp2013.pdf

All the best to all the UPSC Exam Aspirants!!!

Farzad Minoo Damania

Career Counsellor & Corporate Trainer

Career Nurturer

http://www.careernurturer.com

http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.com

http://facebook.com/careernurturer

Confused About YOUR Career?

Are you confused about your career...

Get Expert Guidance and Career Counselling from us ...

Career Counselling and Guidance

Best Wishes,
Farzad Minoo Damania
Career Counsellor and Corporate Trainer
http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.com
http://www.careernurturer.com
http://www.facebook.com/careernurturer

Global University Rankings 2013 [Source: Youth Incorporated, Rediff.com, Education Times]

Youth Incorporated, Education Times and Rediff.com has announced the list of top universities across the globe for year 2013.

Source/Reference: Youth Incorporated Magazine [http://www.youthincmag.com/rankings]

Rank	Name of Institute
1	Harvard University,USA
2	Stanford University,USA
3	University of Pennsylvania,USA
4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology,USA
5	University of Oxford,UK
6	University of Chicago,USA
7	Yale University,USA
8	Columbia University,USA
9	Princeton University,USA
10	Cornell University,USA
11	University of Cambridge,UK
12	California Institute of Technology,USA
13	Imperial College London,UK
14	Brown University,USA
15	University of Waterloo,Canada
16	London School of Economics,UK
17	University of Tokyo,Japan
18	Northwestern University,USA
19	Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai,India
20	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,USA
21	University of California, Los Angeles,USA
22	Carnegie Mellon University,USA
23	New York University,USA
24	University of Melbourne,Australia
25	École Normale Supérieure,France
26	National University of Singapore,Singapore
27	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi,India
28	Duke University,USA
29	IE University,Spain
30	Chinese University of Hong Kong,China
31	University of California, Berkeley,USA
32	Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München,Germany
33	Hong Kong University of Science & Tech,China
34	Johns Hopkins University,USA
35	Emory University,USA
36	École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,Switzerland
37	University College London,UK
38	Dartmouth College,USA
39	University of Virginia,USA
40	University of Copenhagen,Denmark
41	Universidade de São Paulo,Brazil
42	University of Zürich,Switzerland
43	Kings College, London,UK
44	Rice University,USA
45	University of Texas at Austin,USA
46	University of British Columbia,Canada
47	Peking University,China
48	Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,Chile
49	Universität Heidelberg,Germany
50	Technische Universität München,Germany
51	University of Helsinki,Finland
52	University of Sydney,Australia
53	HEC,France
54	Vanderbilt University,USA
55	Universidad de Buenos Aires,Argentina
56	Nanyang Technological University,Singapore
57	Fudan University,China
58	Australian National University,Australia
59	Tokyo Institute of Technology,Japan
60	Seoul National University,South Korea
61	University of Southern California,USA
62	University of Warwick,UK
63	University of Wisconsin Madison,USA
64	École Polytechnique,France
65	Monash University,Australia
66	University of Birmingham,UK
67	Erasmus University Rotterdam,Netherlands
68	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Mexico
69	University of New South Wales,Australia
70	University of Edinburgh,UK
71	University of North Carolina Chapel Hill,USA
72	University of Auckland,New Zealand
73	Tohoku University,Japan
74	Tsinghua University,China
75	Uppsala University,Sweden
76	Georgia Institute of Technology,USA
77	University of Queensland,Australia
78	National Taiwan University,Taiwan
79	Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur,India
80	University of Rochester,USA
81	University of Groningen,Netherlands
82	University of Bern,Switzerland
83	University of Adelaide,Australia
84	University of Surrey,UK
85	Paris Dauphine University,France
86	Ecole Centrale de Paris,France
87	Stockholm University,Sweden
88	University of Tel Aviv,Israel
89	University of Washington,USA
90	University of Amsterdam,Netherlands
91	University of York,UK
92	Washington University St.Louis,USA
93	University of Pittsburg Bradford,USA
94	Pompeu Fabra University,Spain
95	University of Sciences Philadelphia,USA
96	Purdue University,USA
97	Heriot-Watt University,UK
98	Bradley University,USA
99	University of Delhi,India
100	Grenoble Ecole de Management,France

Best Regards,
Farzad Minoo Damania
Career Counsellor & Trainer, Career Nurturer
http://www.careernurturer.com
http://www.facebook.com/careernurturer
http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.com