⁠WHY is emotional intelligence such a big deal? ⁠ ⁠ Because you need to be able to advocate for a patient who can't advocate for themselves because they're under anesthesia. ⁠ ⁠ Because you'll encounter BIG personalities in the OR and you need to be able to tactfully and professionally handle conflict. ⁠ ⁠ Because in high-stakes environments emotions and tempers thrive and you need to be able to think clearly and calmly. ⁠ ⁠ Because teamwork makes the dream work. ⁠ ⁠ Being smart is one thing, but being easy to work/get along with is another thing. ⁠ ⁠ You could be the smartest person where you work but be incredibly difficult to work with, and to me, that's a HUGE con. ⁠ ⁠ The coworkers I lean on in times of crisis are the ones I know I can communicate easily with, and who will work with me synergistically to achieve our goal. ⁠ ⁠ So, as an applicant, emotional intelligence is incredibly important. And the good news is, it's not fixed. You CAN improve your EQ. ⁠ ⁠ We've got some great ...