EQ Is Your Leadership Advantage

In every workplace, there’s a difference between the people who are simply smart and the people who make others better. Emotional intelligence at work, not IQ, is what separates the two. I learned this years ago while consulting with a corporate team that was drowning in conflict. They didn’t lack talent; they could not function together.

One afternoon, a senior engineer named Mark pulled me aside. “I’m the smartest person on this team,” he said, “but nobody listens to me.”

He wasn’t wrong about his intelligence. His technical skills were world-class. But his delivery was harsh, dismissive, and impatient. His brilliance pushed people away.

We worked on a straightforward shift: awareness before action.

I asked him to pause before giving feedback and ask himself, “How will my tone land? What does this person need from me right now?”

Within weeks, things began to shift.

Coworkers said he was easier to approach. Meetings became more productive. His influence grew, not because his IQ increased, but because his emotional intelligence did.

In leadership, people don’t follow your intelligence; they follow how they experience you.

Teams thrive under leaders who listen, stay grounded under pressure, and communicate with respect.

IQ can open the door, but emotional intelligence builds the trust that keeps you in the room.

Watch for the blind spots.

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Author Jerry D. Clark has faced life’s challenges and created strategies for success—he’s eager to share his insights with you! 🎯