If you are working on your career and it seems like you're not going anywhere, please understand that it may not be your intelligence. That's right. You maybe be the sharpest tool in the shed, but smarts alone may not take you where you wish to go. You maybe be very good-looking but sadly, looks can only go so far. If you find yourself struggling in any area of your life, despite the amount of work and time you put into it, you may have issues with emotional intelligence. Either you're completely clueless about it, or you haven't fully refined it. Regardless, you are suffering because you are lacking in this department. Here are eight ways to know if your lack of emotional intelligence is holding you back.

Do you find it very hard to hold back your words to a loved one? You often say the wrong things at the wrong time with the people that matter most in your life. Now, it's very easy to pass this all off as "being real” with them. You can say to them that you’re just being sincere and authentic, but unfortunately, such excuse will ring hallow. They can easily ask you a very question that will shut you down: “If you truly respect and love me, why do you choose those words to communicate?”