Why they Chose the Other Candidate (It Wasn't Skills)

Two equally qualified candidates.

Same resume.

Same experience.

One gets the promotion.

The other gets passed over.

What made the difference?

It wasn't technical skills.

The promoted candidate had mastered something schools don't teach: making people feel valued when they work together.

Your expertise gets you noticed, but your EQ gets you chosen.

✨ I N S P I R E

"The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions." - John Hancock

✨ T H R I V E

Everyone chases degrees, certifications, and technical mastery.

But in today's workplace, that's just the entry fee.

The real difference isn't what you know.

It's how others feel when working with you.

These 10 EQ habits transform you from qualified to requested:

1) Generous Recognition

↳ Spotlight others' contributions instantly

↳ Team success outweighs personal wins

2) Active Listening

↳ Reflect back what others share

↳ Understanding beats assumptions

3) Genuine Curiosity

↳ Ask questions before offering solutions

↳ Learning beats knowing

4) Emotional Steadiness

↳ Keep your calm when tensions rise

↳ Steadiness creates safety

5) Decision Impact

↳ Consider how your actions affect others

↳ Prevention beats damage control

6) Consistent Follow-Through

↳ Follow through on small promises

↳ Consistency beats grand gestures

7) Quick Recovery

↳ Own mistakes quickly, fix them faster

↳ Solutions beat explanations

8) Room Awareness

↳ Read the room before sharing news

↳ Timing transforms your impact

9) Intentional Reactions

↳ Take 3 seconds before reacting to pressure

↳ Emotional control beats quick reactions

10) Visible Growth

↳ Ask for feedback, act on it visibly

↳ Progress beats perfection

Your technical skills might get you the interview, but these EQ habits get you the offer, the promotion, and the invitation to lead

Which EQ habit will you focus on first?

✨ FURTHER READING

Pause Before Speaking - Kind, Necessary, True - Master the three-question filter that transforms workplace communication and builds trust.

How to Handle Conflict with EQ - Transform workplace tension into productive conversations using emotional intelligence strategies that preserve relationships.

Have a great week!

Carolyn

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PPS ~ Know someone who could use this reminder about EQ? Forward this to:

→ That manager who wants to build stronger relationships with their team

→ Anyone who's wondering why their career feels stuck despite their qualifications

→ The high-performer in your life who's ready to level up their leadership presence