High IQ and low emotional intelligence could cost you your dream job

Having a high intelligence quotient (IQ) but low emotional intelligence (EI) could cost you your dream job.

An article by Forbes quotes the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report, which says EI will be one of the top 10 job skills in 2020.

Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.

Forbes explains companies are putting a high premium on emotionally intelligent candidates due to several reasons. One is that they can handle pressure healthily.

Their emotional intelligence allows them to be more aware of themselves and others, which enables them to manage their stress levels.

In the view of Forbes, people with highly developed emotional intelligence are less defensive and more open to feedback, especially when it involves areas of improvement.

Moreover, they are good listeners, which makes them a rare gem because, in workplaces, everyone wants to be heard and understood.

“Their ability to pick up on people’s emotions, through tone of voice and body language, come in handy in team settings.”

Furthermore, they make more thoughtful and thorough decisions because of their ability to see things clearly from another person’s point of view. This allows them to make better judgements about how their decisions will impact others.

Their ability to adapt quickly to workplace changes, manage their emotions, and work well with a diverse range of people makes them valuable.