2 posts tagged with "emotional-intelligence"

Why emotional intelligence beats raw IQ every time​

Here's something I wish I'd understood earlier in my career: the smartest person in the room isn't always the most successful. I've watched brilliant developers struggle with team dynamics while colleagues with solid (but not exceptional) technical skills became tech leads and managers. The difference? Emotional intelligence.

The same pattern plays out for our kids. Academic achievement matters, but the ability to understand emotions, navigate relationships, and communicate effectively determines success in ways that test scores never will. And unlike IQ, emotional intelligence can be taught, practiced, and improved throughout life.

You're debugging a production issue at 2 AM when your teammate suggests a solution that's... well, let's just say it wouldn't pass code review. Your first instinct might be to point out why it won't work, but here's the thing — how you handle that moment says more about your career trajectory than your technical skills.

Welcome to emotional intelligence in tech. It's not about being the "feelings police" or turning every standup into group therapy. It's about reading the room, managing your reactions, and building relationships that actually help you ship better code.