Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.
IQ tests measure your ability to solve problems, use logic, and grasp or communicate complex ideas. EQ tests measure your ability to recognize emotion in yourself and others, and to use that awareness to guide your decisions.
Emotional Intelligence improves your assertiveness by allowing you to communicate effectively. By being aware of your emotions, and by having self-control, you can communicate your thoughts clearly and with confidence. In turn, this will make you more assertive and confident, without coming across as pushy or aggressive. By becoming more assertive, you can put forward your ideas and your experience effectively, instead of being passive and letting others take the lead. This is beneficial as your colleagues won’t always know what your skills and expertise are unless you communicate them and put them forward.