I can almost hear the confusion and imagining it is causing me physical pain so before I get down to it, let's define the terms IQ and EQ first.

IQ is the abbreviation for Intelligence Quotient which generally describes a score on a test that rates the person's cognitive ability as compared to the general population.

Simply put, IQ tests are designed to measure your general ability to solve problems and understand concepts. This includes reasoning ability, problem-solving ability, ability to perceive relationships between things, and the ability to store and retrieve information. It is an aptitude test.

EQ which stands for Emotional Quotient, on the other hand, is the level of your ability to understand other people, what motivates them and how to work cooperatively with them.

Authour Justin Bariso defines EQ simply as "emotional intelligence is the ability to make emotions work for you instead of against you."

So if it still isn't obvious by the definitions itself, let's dwell deeper into why EQ is valued more than IQ.

Imagine that you are talking to your friends: do they come to you for comfort? Are they comfortable leaning to you for advice? Do they feel better once you have had an opportunity to speak with them?

I would value a person who knows how to make me feel better, who made me feel wanted than who can't empathize with my situation.

This same value is placed on work relationships and all other relationships.

As individuals, our success and the success of our profession today depends on our ability to read other people's signals and react appropriately to them.

You may be really good at the job but if you aren't able to connect with your peers, your brute knowledge is insignificant.

So no matter how good your GPA is, if you do not attempt to practice empathy, your life will be more restricted because your value will decrease to others.

Due to societal pressure, we are taught that emotions make us weak, make us feminine (because having feminine traits make us weak, don't they?) and thus, people who do not show their emotions are considered stronger.

The actual reality is that your emotions make you stronger and if you still don't get it, I'd recommend just observing the people around you: who has the most support? Who do people gravitate to the most? Who do people make the most positive connection with? It is always those who have high EQ, regardless of their personality type.

So, really, if you want to succeed in your workplace and personal life, you have to be able to comprehend your complex emotions and those of the people around you and realize that if used correctly, it can propel you to avenues that you could never reach before.