These types of stressors occur in many sectors. In a study of public-sector employees, those with higher emotional intelligence found it easier to handle the perception of organizational politics and had lower abesentee rates. 46
Star Performance Saves $190m
There is a significant cost to attracting and onboarding new employees who underperform then wash out. While estimates of hiring effectivenes range around 50%, few organizations track this hemmorage because the costs tend to be spread over multiple budgets (recruiting, training, operations). However, the US Airforce has undertaken experiments to test the financial value of hiring people who perform. In 2009, the USAF began testing to see the effect of EQ on Pararescue Jumper candidates. A known number of candidates fail to complete the training at a cost of approximately $250,000 per
trainee – if they selected candidates based on certain emotional intelligence skills, would the retention rate increase?
According to Dr. Reuven Bar-On, five key emotional intelligence skills emerged as highly predictive of course completion. Those candidates who are more “aware of their weaknesses as well as their strengths, can effectively validate their feelings and keep things in correct perspective, (are flexible and adaptive and are optimistic and positive are the ones who have the best chance of successfully completing this extremely demanding course.” The net savings of selecting based on these competencies equals $190 million. 47
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White Paper The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence
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