7 Surprising Ways Emotional Intelligence Will Get You Ahead At Work

7 Surprising Ways Emotional Intelligence Will Get You Ahead At Work There are a lot of valuable skills to have in the workplace problem-solving, public speaking, team building, self-awareness, etc. but theres one skill thats consistently underrated by professionals and the companies they work for emotional intelligence.Emotional intelligence is important to building interpersonal relationships and understanding the emotions of yourself and others. Having high EQ levels means that youre flexible, good at receiving criticism and are a team player. Its also an important asset when negotiating, whether its for yourself or for your company.Emotional intelligence, mora so than your IQ (intelligence quotient), will help you get ahead at work. Here are some surprising ways your EQ can help you climb the corporate ladder and earn more respect.1. You can understand others perspectives. High levels of emotional intelligence translateto high levels of empathy, meaning that you have a stronger un derstanding of where your coworkers perspectives in various situations. By considering how Sally has come to see Issue X with Y perspective, you can find solutions and compromises more efficiently.2. Youll get more opportunities. Emotionally intelligent people are likable, full stop. Its human nature that were drawn to working with people that we like, and being emotionally intelligent is crucial to growing personal relationships. These relationships dont just lead to stronger friendships, they can also bolster your career prospects. Case in point? A babo that likes you is much more likely to introduce you to a fellow department head as opposed to one that doesnt.3. Your mistakes are more easily forgiven. Did you accidentally leave somebody off of an email chain? Dont worry it happens. But by being emotionally intelligent, i.e. more likable, your coworkers are more likely to see these as accidental instead of as passive aggressive. By having the benefit of the doubt, youll have mor e leeway to move forward in your career without any unnecessary obstacles.4. You will lead more effectively. High emotional intelligence leads to stronger communication skills, which are the foundation of strong leadership. Your team members will see that you care and that youre willing to listen to (and address) their concerns that will earn you respect in the workplace and beyond.5. You can see the big picture. Understanding that things happen and that youre able to work around them is a large part of being emotionally intelligent. (Its also one of the reasons we love flex work schedules) By not getting caught up in the details, youll be able to focus on the big picture. The ups and downs of everyday life wont stop you from being a bosslady.6. Youll know how to read a room. Knowing what meetings you can crack jokes in and which ones you cant is a highly underrated skill. Developing your emotional intelligence means that youll be able to read situations better and faster, a.k.a. yo u wont accidentally make any inappropriate jokes in the near future.7. Youll get smarter. Unfortunately, this doesnt mean that being emotionally intelligent means that youll wake up and *suddenly* be smarter. What it means is that those with high levels of emotional intelligence are naturally curious they want to know more about the people they work with, about the subjects theyre working on and more about situations in general. Making the effort to learn more inevitably means that you will learn more. Not just about your job, but about the world around you as well.