I was out to dinner with friends a few weeks ago; when the subject of IQ levels came up in conversation, over the curry.

IQ is a relatively stable indicator of your level of intellectual ability. If you test the same person over a period of time, the final figure will remain largely the same, despite the inevitable processes of learning and experience that have taken place in that person’s life.

However, current research has shown that IQ rating accounts for only 4-10% of career success and is no indicator whatsoever of your general level of happiness in life.

Over the last ten years or so it has become accepted that human thinking and feeling cannot be separated. We just cannot make rational decisions without our emotions exerting some influence over our choices.

You can now test your level of emotional intelligence (EQ) and see where your strengths and weaknesses lie; and there are numerous exercises you can use to develop your ability in this area.

Whereas rational, deductive, decision -making is believed to take place in the left side of the brain; the right brain is believed to be the keeper of the overall picture; the place where your empathy originates; and the place from where your ability to see from different perspectives can help you create a joke.

Some forty years of research in this area has served to confirm this ‘common sense’ belief that high levels of humorous ability are usually indicative of high levels of emotional intelligence.

Whereas the negative use of humour, such as sarcasm and bullying can be hugely detrimental to any relationship; positive use of humour by managers can serve to reduce hostility; deflect criticism; relieve tension; improve morale; and communicate difficult messages more effectively in the workplace. Should you ever find yourself in a position to do so, I would highly recommend you take the opportunity to appreciate the humour in any situation; and so have the last laugh!