We are all familiar with the word "intelligence quotient" or IQ. From our school days to the time we were striving to build a career, we have been constantly required to take IQ tests to prove to whomever it matters the level of our intellect.

But, emotional intelligence? Not so much information has been disseminated about it, nor as much attention devoted to it.

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You can try asking loved ones and strangers about it, and you'll probably be given a lengthy discourse on both IQ and EQ that leaves all of you with more confusion in the end. (Except, of course, the person you asked would probably refuse to admit that he doesn't really know what EQ is because of pride. Admitting you don't understand EQ is like saying you're feeble in both intellectual and emotional aspects.)

Pride. Ego. That's where the importance of Emotional Intelligence comes in.

It's because of ego that we can't admit our areas of ignorance, our personal weaknesses, our mistakes.

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It's also ego that drives us to excel, to be perfect. We have to present our best work, unblemished, every time. And every time we try to be perfect, we fail. We step back. We procrastinate. And we pummel ourselves hard for not being able to excel the way we've envisioned our work, our lives, and our relationships.

This is the same agonizing experience that Justin Bariso went through as a perfectionist, until he discovered the 3 words that would help him beat this self-defeating attitude. After this life-altering discovery, he was able to climb the ladder of success quicker than he'd expected by becoming an emotionally intelligent individual.

He's shared this wisdom in his article, Emotionally Intelligent People Use 3 Simple Words to Beat Perfectionism and Work Faster (and Better), published in INC.com. According to him, "So I began using a simple, three-word phrase to help me stop my perfectionism dead in its tracks: 'Work in progress.' How can this simple phrase make you, your work, and even those you work with, better? The answer has to do with emotional intelligence."

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Bariso, then, discussed explicitly what emotional intelligence is. It's the ability to recognize emotions in yourself and other people and to effectively express and manage them.

By accepting that every one of us is imperfect and that we are all "works in progress," our efficiency and productivity level up. And even our relationships with other people at the workplace and at home significantly improve.

Here are just some of the benefits you'll gain by enhancing your EQ, according to Bariso:

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1. You can handle criticisms better. Constructive criticisms can help spur your growth as an individual and a career person.
2. Mistakes become opportunities for you. You can use these as stepping-stones as you learn valuable lessons from the experience.
3. You stop being a judge and become a teammate. By working together and focusing on the strengths of the other team members rather than their imperfections, you'll achieve more.

So, if you want to stop perfectionism from bogging you down, remember these 3 simple words: Work in Progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jzWFQLopk