EQ Factor

Life is usually a game of whack-a-mole. You handle one problem and two more pop up. Add the aspect of high-pressure decisions and the stress gets real, creating what feels like an emotional minefield. Two of the biggest players in this arena are gratitude and resentment. If you aren’t already aware, one makes you stronger while the other eats you from the inside. But the good news is you get to choose which one wins.

In the world of business, professional know-how usually gets all the glory. But since 80 percent of promotions occur because of people skills, isn’t it time emotional intelligence (EQ) gets more attention? You can think of EQ as the secret sauce, because in a worldwide study of 200 companies, two-thirds of the difference between average and top performers was found to be EQ. 

Anger is a universal human emotion, but it doesn’t fly well in human relationships. This is particularly true when working in high-pressure situations. Whether it’s from feeling slighted or dealing with uncooperative people, mismanaged anger can have long-lasting negative ripple-effects. 

Olivia had been employed with the same company for over 10 years, with consistently excellent performance reviews. One day she heard about an opening at the company’s global headquarters. The job would require relocating to Europe, but it came with a substantial salary increase. Several of Olivia’s colleagues thought she’d excel in the position, but several advised against the move. They’d heard some negative reports about the person to whom Olivia would be reporting.

One of the key takeaways from 7 Habits is examining the lens through which we see the world. Why does that matter? Because the lens we use affects everything we perceive, and if we’re not careful, confirmation bias can distort reality. 

It’s nice when a manager or supervisor notices you went above and beyond the expectations of your job, but sometimes its even better when your work is noticed by a co-worker.