The 4 Types Of Intelligence At Work

The workplace is evolving.

It seems every year that the pace of this evolution is increasing faster and faster.

When I look at the challenges that we are seeing in the workplace, part of the problem is that we don't understand the different types of Intelligence that exist.

In the workplace, there are 4 types of Intelligence that are relevant across industries.

With these 4 types of Intelligence, when they are misunderstood or mis-utilized, challenges arise.

So, if we hope to improve the workplace, we must understand what these 4 types of Intelligence are and how they will interact with each other in the future.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This one has been a buzzword as of late - Artificial Intelligence.

Essentially, it is the use of computer technology to go through data quickly and efficiently and perform certain tasks.

Now, I've said quite a bit about AI.

Most of what I've said has been about how AI shouldn't make us afraid.

It is true that AI will change the workplace dynamic in the future.

I don't believe there is any way around that.

However, AI is very limited.

It has come a very long way, but its "thinking" is very different from what humans are capable of.

Now, where AI is most beneficial is in going through large data sets.

The more data that you have and the faster that you need it analyzed, the better AI will be for you.

It is especially powerful in looking at past data.

It also is good at doing repetitive work that doesn't require many changes and stay fairly consistent.

The biggest challenges for AI though are creating new ideas, concepts, and connecting ideas that don't have previous data or past history.

For AI to work best, it needs humans behind it.

This is where the other types of Intelligence are needed.

General Intelligence (g or IQ)

General Intelligence is defined as the existence of broad mental capacities that influence performance on cognitive ability measures.

The most common way to try to measure this is through IQ.

Now, if we were to focus on General Intelligence based on data from the past, AI more often beats out people.

However, moving into the future of the workplace, General Intelligence will still be extremely useful.

Where it will best serve people is not in understanding old data, or seeing past patterns.

Rather, it will best be utilized in seeing New Patterns or looking for meaning within Irregular Data.

See, AI has a tendency to aggregate and eliminate what it doesn't view as useful - but people with high IQ will be able to see patterns that exist outside the norm and patterns that may be missing pieces.

Using General Intelligence in this way will help humans distinguish themselves and improve the overall workplace.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI)

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand, use, manage, perceive, and handle both our own emotions and the emotions of others.

As workplaces continue to become more interconnected, this will become more and more of a staple in Intelligence.

According to Gallup, the demand for Emotional Intelligence in the workplace has increased 6x in response to the rise of AI.

As machines and AI become more prevalent, our workplaces will need to focus more and more on people to succeed.

61% of Executives say that Emotional Intelligence will become a "must-have" skill in the next 1-5 years.

I would say that it is already necessary now, and if you are lacking it then you are far behind.

Understanding people, and working around their emotions is one of the most powerful tools for Leaders.

Without it, you will always underutilize your teams and people don't enjoy feeling that way.

Vitality Intelligence (VQ or VI)

The most important Intelligence for the future of the workplace (and least talked about) is Vitality Intelligence.

This is a form of Intelligence that understands our Psychophysiology and utilizes it to our advantage.

It includes understanding Stress (both Eu-Stress and Dis-Stress) and Stress Damage, Neurocardiology, Neurogastroenterology, Respiration, Neurology (especially the Nervous System), and Flow Psychology.

What is most important here is that this Intelligence actually underlies both EI/EQ and IQ/g!

Low Vitality Intelligence drastically reduces both EI/EQ and IQ/g.

Failure to optimize Vitality Intelligence in the workplace will lead to problems that currently exist getting worse.

This is especially true in relation to understanding Stress.

Specifically, Burnout (The final stage of Dis-Stress) which already affects 80% of people.

The biggest problem here is most Leaders are only making Dis-Stress worse, and most "Wellness" practices fail to truly fix Dis-Stress.

It is like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound.

The organizations that thrive in the future won't be the ones that have the best AI, or have the highest IQ, or the best EQ individuals.

Rather, the organizations that thrive in the future will be the ones that have a high Vitality Intelligence which bolsters both human General Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence above the competition, and also utilize AI in ways that allow Humans to dedicate their Intelligence toward Innovation and Creativity.

Failure to fix the Stress problem will be a failure to utilize an organization's best value - people.