Keys to success: Social and emotional intelligence Published Nov. 6, 2015 By Chief Master Sgt. Daniel DeSmet 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Air Force members work seamlessly together with a common mission in mind, but sometimes it's easier said than done. We come from all parts of the world and we communicate and perceive each other in different ways. Your ability to lead or follow directly impacts the mission and your career progression. There are attainable skills which make you a more effective leader or team member. You can become a charismatic, observant and introspective leader through practice. Many people believe that your intelligence quotient is the best determinant to your success. I disagree and so do many scholars. Many studies show that your emotional intelligence and social intelligence are more important to success. According to Daniel Goleman, people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70 percent of the time. Higher emotional/social intelligence is determined to be the reason. EI is your ability to understand yourself and others, managing your emotions and adapting to changes in the environment. SI is your ability to get along with others while winning their cooperation. Improving your IQ is possible, but only marginally. However greatly improving your EI and SI can be done with practice. You can develop high emotional intelligence even if you aren't born with it. You must train your brain by repeatedly practicing new emotionally intelligent behaviors. SI is a combination of sensitivity to the needs and interests of others, sometimes called your "social radar," an attitude of generosity and consideration as well as and a set of practical skills for interacting successfully with people in any setting, according to a July 2015 article in Forbes magazine. Good traits to practice: empathy by observing and considering others feelings; humility by being a classy winner and leading by your actions; tact with timing and manners; respect by treating your co-workers like professionals; be happy as you have a moral obligation to be happy; show intent by looking people in their eyes when you are conversing; listen by seeking first to understand, then to be understood; spend time by giving people your time and attention, making it glaringly apparent that they matter. I hope this article provokes interest in some Airmen because this subject can be life changing. Many people get tunnel vision chasing statistics and production when their biggest return on investment can be realized through developing their social and emotional intelligence.