--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of assuming that emotional…" description: "\"Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about where and when it matters.\" — Adam Grant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png" --- # Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always… ![“Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about where and when it matters.” quote by Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png) > “Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about where and when it matters.” [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotional intelligence isn’t universally beneficial; its value depends on context and timing. **In simple terms:** EI isn’t always useful. Key Takeaway Apply EI selectively. Themes psychology leadership contextual intelligence Mood analytical balanced Type leadership psychology When to use this quote - team management - conflict resolution - negotiation - coaching Key Concepts emotional intelligence situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - When does EI help? - When might it hinder? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑reliance on EI. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Assuming Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming-emotional-6027460/) [Emotional intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-intelligence/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-useful-442136/) [Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Need Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-think/) [Think Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-carefully-1149667/) ## Related quotes > [“Intelligence is only useful if it's used”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-deltl/intelligence-is-only-useful-if-it-s-used/) [Johannes Deltl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-deltl/) > [Intelligence is useful. Energy is valuable. Integrity is essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/intelligence-is-useful-energy-is-valuable-integrity-is-essential/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [Some of the greatest moments in human history were fueled by emotional intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/some-of-the-greatest-moments-in-human-history-were-fueled-by/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [I have in the past tended to overestimate the amount of change I can affect in the short run and then not fully appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-have-in-the-past-tended-to-overestimate-the-amount-of-change-i-can/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I hope people will think very carefully about the future,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-elizabeth-ii/i-hope-people-will-think-very-carefully-about-the-future/) [Queen Elizabeth II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-elizabeth-ii/) > [I still think carefully about what I'm going to say. I use me heart and head technique, in which the heart says, 'get stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/i-still-think-carefully-about-what-i-m-going-to-say-i-use-me-heart/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [Anyone who is contemplating going to Afghanistan does need to think very carefully about the consequences, both to them and their families in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/anyone-who-is-contemplating-going-to-afghanistan-does-need-to-think/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [If there are still honest-smart men and women within those old and noble traditions, they should think carefully, observe and diagnose the illness. 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Think carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-calm-don-t-let-your-feeling-controlled-your-heart-think-carefully/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we permit flawed machines to make life-changing decisions on our behalf - by allowing them to pinpoint a murder suspect, to diagnose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/if-we-permit-flawed-machines-to-make-life-changing-decisions-on-our/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [“Think it over carefully. This is very important," I say, "because to believe something, whatever it might be, is the doing of the mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/think-it-over-carefully-this-is-very-important-i-say-because-to/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Do you have a problem? Think carefully! Is it really a problem or is it just your mind’s invention, your mind’s exaggeration? Is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-have-a-problem-think-carefully-is-it-really-a-problem-or-is-it/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [In terms of personal choices, let's all think more carefully about where we get our protein from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/in-terms-of-personal-choices-let-s-all-think-more-carefully-about/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More by Adam Grant > [When young women get called bossy, it's often because they're trying to exercise power without status. It's not a problem that they're being dominant;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/when-young-women-get-called-bossy-it-s-often-because-they-re-trying/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [If I had the day off and knew everyone else was voting, I wouldn't miss it. It would become a routine part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/if-i-had-the-day-off-and-knew-everyone-else-was-voting-i-wouldn-t/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [No one wants to hear everything that's in your head. They just want you to live up to what comes out of your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/no-one-wants-to-hear-everything-that-s-in-your-head-they-just-want/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Geniuses don't have better ideas than the rest of us. They just have more of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/geniuses-don-t-have-better-ideas-than-the-rest-of-us-they-just-have/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Meditation isn't snake oil. For some people, meditation might be the most efficient way to reduce stress and cultivate mindfulness. 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They believe that when people collaborate toward a common goal, great things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/to-get-important-work-done-most-leaders-organize-people-into-teams/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Most people believe that great leaders are distinguished by their ability to give compelling answers. This profound book shatters that assumption, showing that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/most-people-believe-that-great-leaders-are-distinguished-by-their/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Kids who evolve into creative adults tend to have a strong moral compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/kids-who-evolve-into-creative-adults-tend-to-have-a-strong-moral/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Authenticity means erasing the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/authenticity-means-erasing-the-gap-between-what-you-firmly-believe/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) [Explore all 122 Adam Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about where and when it matters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Grant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intelligence-is-always-useful-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intelligence-is-always-useful-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/adam-grant-3775_always_instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intel_2403517.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about…” — Adam Grant", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Grant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intelligence-is-always-useful-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/instead-of-assuming-that-emotional-intelligence-is-always-useful-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```