By Charlette Pomme

When people talk about wellbeing, they often reach straight for the word happiness. But mental health is far more nuanced than a passing good mood. It is a combination of feelings: calm, energy, contentment, meaning, hope - that coexist with a sense of steadiness. A feeling that this is not fleeting. That it is lasting. A known state you can return to.

In emotional intelligence (EQ) assessments, happiness is treated as an indicator of emotional health and overall wellbeing. And importantly, it is interconnected with every other EQ skill. When your sense of happiness drops, your capacity across multiple emotional abilities drops with it.

Wellbeing is not separate from performance. It is the foundation of it.

The Brain Under Pressure: Why Wellbeing Drives Productivity

A resilient brain is quite simply a smarter and more productive brain.

When stress lingers for too long, it changes brain chemistry. Cells in the hippocampus (the area responsible for memory and learning) begin to deteriorate. Neuroplasticity decreases. Creative thinking narrows. The balance between our ‘hot’ emotional reactions and our ‘cool’ reflective thinking shifts off-centre.

The amygdala (the brain’s fear system)becomes louder and more reactive. Meanwhile, regions such as the insula and cingulate cortex, which support foresight, empathy and thoughtful decision-making, become quieter.

This creates ‘fire-fighting’ mode, where everything feels urgent. Perspective shrinks. Collaboration becomes harder. Innovation slows. Productivity becomes reactive rather than strategic. All the things we need to be productive.

Chronic stress does not just affect mood. It affects memory, creativity, judgement, relationships and output. In other words, it affects performance at every level.

This is why emotional intelligence cannot be treated as optional.

As Daniel Goleman’s research has shown,
“The higher you go in the organisation, the more emotional intelligence matters.”

Performance at scale depends on regulation, awareness and relational skill.

To improve wellbeing, we must improve resilience. And when resilience improves, cognitive capacity returns. Clarity increases. Strategic thinking re-emerges. Productivity strengthens because resilience is an improvement in nervous system health first, followed by neurological balance.

Wellbeing in the EQ-i 2.0 Model

In the EQ-i 2.0 assessment, the Well-Being Indicator reflects how satisfied and content someone feels with their life: how they perceive their experiences and themselves within them.

Four key EQ skills sit at the heart of this indicator:

1. Self-Regard
2. Optimism
3. Interpersonal Relationships
4. Self-Actualisation

Notice what is not on that list: grit, discipline or pushing harder.

Wellbeing is not built on force. It is built on emotional alignment.

Let’s explore each skill.

1. Self-Regard: The Foundation of Emotional Stability

Self-regard goes beyond surface confidence. It is respect for oneself. It is understanding and accepting both strengths and weaknesses without self-rejection.

High self-regard supports:

• Positive self-perception
• Fulfilment
• Life satisfaction
• Emotional steadiness

When self-regard is low, individuals may feel unsure, overly self-critical, or stuck in transition. Decision-making becomes harder. Risk-taking feels unsafe. Productivity dips because internal doubt consumes cognitive energy.

When self-regard is healthy, energy is freed up. You spend less time battling yourself and more time creating, contributing and leading.

2. Self-Actualisation: Meaning Fuels Motivation

Self-actualisation reflects the pursuit of meaning and self-improvement. It is about growth aligned with personal values.

Those high in this skill tend to:

• Set purposeful goals
• Engage in lifelong learning
• Feel energised and motivated
• Experience their work as meaningful

When this skill is underdeveloped, life can feel flat or directionless. Motivation becomes outcome-driven rather than growth-driven. Productivity may continue but it feels draining rather than energising.

Meaning is not a luxury. It is a performance enhancer. When people feel their efforts matter, discretionary effort rises naturally.

3. Optimism: The Recovery Mechanism

Optimism is not blind positivity. It is the ability to interpret setbacks in a way that preserves hope and agency.

Those with strong optimism:

• See possibilities
• Expect constructive outcomes
• Recover faster from disappointment
• View positive events as personal and sustainable

When optimism is low, individuals anticipate worst-case scenarios. The future feels uncertain or threatening. Cognitive resources shift towards threat monitoring rather than opportunity seeking.

Optimism fuels resilience. And resilience fuels sustained performance.

4. Interpersonal Relationships: The Productivity Multiplier

Humans are biologically wired for connection. Strong, mutually satisfying relationships act as a buffer against stress and daily demands.

When this EQ skill is well developed:

• Collaboration improves
• Trust increases
• Communication becomes smoother
• Emotional load is shared

Healthy relationships shield the brain from prolonged stress activation. This preserves cognitive function, creativity and strategic thinking.

When interpersonal relationships are weak, isolation increases stress reactivity. The nervous system remains on guard. Productivity becomes harder to sustain.

How to Improve Wellbeing

The stability of wellbeing is largely determined by emotional intelligence. Our nervous systems need to experience stability and reliability, regularly. We can do this in the workplace by embedding emotional intelligence into the company culture in collaboration with the HR team and educating the Senior Leadership Team. This brings psychological safety into the workplace, which is crucial for creating conditions where people can function well. 

Secondly, we can work with individuals to improve their own resilience:

Stress Tolerance: The Resilience Axis

Within the EQ model, stress tolerance, often described as resilience, sits on three interconnected subskills:

• Problem Solving: Finding solutions even when emotions are involved
• Flexibility: Adapting emotions, thoughts and behaviours
• Interpersonal Relationships: Maintaining supportive connections

Balancing these subskills strengthens emotional functioning. When individuals can adapt, solve and connect under pressure, their brain stays online. They remain capable of thoughtful action rather than reactive urgency.

Why ‘Trying Harder’ Isn’t the Answer

We often attribute success to discipline or character. Yet biological drivers govern every decision and action we take.

When the brain is dysregulated by stress, no amount of willpower restores clarity. Trying harder in a compromised neurological state often leads to burnout rather than happiness.

People who are genuinely resilient and productive work with their biology, not against it. Emotional intelligence provides the framework to do exactly that.