Have you taken an emotional intelligence assessment? I've tried
several, and gained new insight into myself each time; I see the
different tools have different application, but that's a different
article! I believe tests have to be used carefully, and are best
when the test-taker does so from curiosity and a desire to learn.

I just completed the "Emotional Intelligence Appraisal Multi-
Rater," it's the first "multi-rater" I've tried. In a multi-rater,
you select several people to give you input, and you can see how
their view of you and your view of you are alike and different.

The first step on the "EI Appraisal MR" is to purchase your
authorization code online. The tool is now available from Six
Seconds, and if you buy it here the nonprofit gets a commission
-- so (a), get it from us, and (b), I have a bias! http://www.6seconds.org/ts/

I received my authorization code in an email, and clicked the
special link. Then I set up my survey by entering the email
addresses of my "raters" and deciding on the timeframe. The page
is fairly simple, it took me 3 minutes -- the biggest challenge
was deciding who I wanted as raters. I asked work colleagues from
different jobs and work areas.

The system sent emails to my raters, and to me. I clicked the link
in that email and answered the 28 questions -- took a bit more
than 5 minutes. Then I checked back on the system each day.
When my deadline was close, I decided to extend by a day to get a
few more raters to complete the process.

Today I clicked the "generate report" button and my setup page
turned into a report. First there are several pages of
introduction explaining EQ and the "Daniel Goleman model" of
self-awareness, other-awareness, self-management, other-
management. Next came a summary of scores in the four areas
-- a bar graph showing what I said, and what others
cumulatively said.

Then it took me through that info question-by-question. I found
that overall others rated me as more competent than I rated
myself -- so that was a big relief! I saw a couple place where
I decided the others were more accurate, and a couple where I
think I must be good at fooling people.

The most meaningful part was reading the open-ended comments
on my strength relating to others and an area to improve --
reported with no names, of course. This is where picking the
raters is so key -- I picked people whose perspective matters to
me. Not that they necessarily "know the real answer," but their
view matters. So as I read the comments, I found them to be
significant. And inspiring.

My conclusions are that I've probably under-rated myself in my
ability to engaging with people, and that fear may hold me back
sometimes. Perhaps because of the insecurity I feel, I jump too
quickly into solutions and bypass some of the important process.

The next part of the online tool is an e-learning process to
explain the four areas. The system pointed out my lower-
scoring area, so I jumped right to it. I found the explanations
to be reasonable and there are video clip examples and discussion
for further exploration.

Then there's a goal-tracking system. I created a goal to work on
one of the four areas, and the system offered some specific actions
I could try. I'll be getting an email every two weeks now to
remind me to check in on the progress.

I spent about 45 minutes reviewing the report and setting goals,
but I went back and forth a bit to explore the tool. It would be
easy to spend a couple hours really digging into the tool, and with
the test you get to use it for six months.

The EIA system provides a simple, usable process for exploring
your own emotional intelligence. I suspect the most value would
come doing the process with a coach or friend, but it's easy
enough to do by yourself. If you can afford the $129 for the
Multi-Rater, I highly recommend going this route -- it provided
me far more than the self-assessment.

As always, the challenge is putting the insight into action. The
goal-tracking process isn't enough to inspire change... but it may
be enough to help maintain my commitment.

If you try the system, I hope you'll let me know how it works for
you. The EIA tool is available as a Multi-Rater, a Self-Assessment
and in a Team Edition. Please use this link for more:
http://www.6seconds.org/ts/

Warmly,
- Josh

Joshua Freedman
Editor, Six Seconds EQ Network
http://www.6seconds.org