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Too high an IQ is not good at work

Writer's picture: Patrick LittorinPatrick Littorin

It is said that intelligent people are also successful. Then it is also easy to believe that the more intelligent you are, the more successful you will be. Others believe that it is the personality that is decisive. Still other researchers believe that one should have high emotional intelligence (EQ) to be successful.

As some say: "IQ to get the job, EQ to keep it."


In our own research, it seems rather to be a combination of several different qualities and abilities that create success. Although of course success also depends on the type of job, industry and company culture. But surprisingly the same factors return, even if the ranking can sometimes differ between companies and the position in question.


Our own research suggests that success is a combination of wanting to work and a certain personality - depending on the job. In addition, it seems that being normally gifted is enough to be able to perform well at work, even when it comes to managerial roles.

Certain factors seem to influence success in working life. The ones we found are most important:

  • Work motivation. For success – regardless of level – you have to enjoy working. This quality has consistently been the most important success factor.

 

  • Consientiousness. As a person, you must be task-oriented and performance-oriented. You have to want to perform.

 

  • Outgoing orientation. In almost all professions, it is an advantage to want to seek contact with other people, for example as a salesperson or as a manager, where the job is to influence others. In just one survey, we have found that being an introvert is an advantage.

 

  • Emotional stability. In almost all professions, it is an advantage to be emotionally secure, both in good times and bad.

 

  • Self confidence. Regardless of the job, it is an advantage to trust your own abilities and believe you can solve any problems that may arise.

 

  • Logical ability - but within reasonable limits. At least in working life, we have not been able to see that being extremely intelligent is a clear advantage. On the other hand, it seems to be good to at least be normally gifted.

 

Nor should a manager be too clever among others. Having a fair amount of IQ, perhaps a little above average in the work group, seems to be the optimum. Having a much higher IQ than one's co-workers, on the other hand, increases the risk of conflicts. Most of us have encountered an "intelligent idiot" at work at some point in our lives.


Unfortunately, it also seems that below a certain level of intelligence (as measured by traditional IQ tests), one performs worse at work, regardless of whether one is a manager, an ordinary employee, or in a relatively unskilled job.


Sources:

Fokus, 8-14th August 2024.

Psykometrika, scientific bakground 2022.

Personal och Ledarskap, nr 6. 2000.

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