Newsletter #1: The Hidden Factor Behind 90% of Workplace Success
Dear Reader,
After 40+ years in leadership roles at companies like Amgen and Gilead Sciences, I’ve learned something surprising: Your technical skills and IQ might get you hired, but they’re not what determine your ultimate success.
Research shows that emotional intelligence accounts for 85-90% of success at work—more than expertise, more than IQ, more than any other factor.
The $500,000 Mistake That Taught Me Everything
Early in my career, I made a critical hiring mistake that cost our operation dearly. I hired a brilliant senior leader—impressive credentials, deep technical knowledge, years of experience. On paper, he was perfect.
Within months, projects stalled. Costs escalated. Why? He spent more time arguing with colleagues than solving problems. His low emotional intelligence created friction at every turn. Eventually, I had to let him go.
That experience changed how I evaluated talent forever.
The Four Pillars of Emotional Intelligence
In my new book, The Success Guide: How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment, I break down the four core characteristics that separate high performers from everyone else:
1. Self-Awareness: A manager recognizes her frustration during meetings stems from personal stress, not team performance. She adjusts her approach accordingly.
2. Self-Management: After receiving criticism, an employee takes a breath, reflects, and expresses gratitude for feedback instead of reacting defensively.
3. Social Awareness: A team member notices a colleague’s withdrawal and checks in privately, strengthening trust and team cohesion.
4. Relationship Management: A leader mediates conflict by helping team members express perspectives and find common ground.
Why Your Brain Works Against You
Here’s what most people don’t understand: Your subconscious mind controls 85-95% of your daily actions. It’s lightning-fast but inexact. A sharp disagreement with a colleague triggers the same biological response as a physical threat.
Without emotional intelligence, your brain’s fear response hijacks rational thinking. With it, you recognize the emotion, pause, and choose your response.
The Good News
Unlike IQ, emotional intelligence can be developed and strengthened through intentional practice. In The Success Guide, I share specific techniques I’ve used to:
• Recognize emotional triggers before they derail important conversations
• Build self-awareness through practical daily exercises
• Create trust-based environments where teams thrive
• Navigate conflict constructively
Your Next Step
The Success Guide: How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment launches January 8th. This comprehensive roadmap draws from decades of real-world leadership experience in highly regulated industries.
In next week’s newsletter, I’ll share the counterintuitive approach to managing fear that transformed my leadership style.
To your success,
Ed Bjurstrom
Founder, Mountain Top Consulting
Author of The Success Guide
P.S. Want to assess your own emotional intelligence? In the book, I provide a detailed framework for building self-awareness—the foundation of all EQ development.