When most people talk about intelligence, two concepts tend to dominate the conversation:
IQ (intelligence quotient): standard measure of an individual’s intelligence level based on psychological tests.
EQ (emotional intelligence): ability to perceive, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and relationships.
Both have value.
Both also tell only part of the story.
You might know someone who struggles with project timelines but can instantly spot patterns in complex market data. Or a colleague who fumbles through presentations but builds incredible relationships with clients.
These everyday observations hint at something psychologists have been studying for decades: intelligence is far more diverse than our traditional measures suggest.
In the 1980s, psychologist Howard Gardner proposed that human intelligence isn't a single dominating trait. Individuals have the potential to develop a combination of eight separate intelligences, or spheres of intelligence.
His theory of multiple intelligences suggests we each have a different blend of 8 core abilities:
Linguistic – Sensitivity to the meaning, order, and rhythm of words. Like a storyteller who naturally finds the perfect way to explain complex ideas.
Logical-Mathematical – Skill in logical reasoning, recognizing patterns, and classical problem-solving. Think of a chess player who can see multiple moves ahead.
Bodily-Kinesthetic – Using the whole body to solve problems, create, or express ideas. An example is a dancer who can tell entire stories through movement.
Spatial – The capacity to visualize shapes, objects and patterns. This could be an artist who can perfectly capture a scene from memory.
Musical – Sensitivity to pitch, tone, rhythm, and the emotional power of sound. Like someone who can pick up any instrument and intuitively start playing.
Interpersonal – The ability to understand and work effectively with others. Think of a community organizer who naturally brings people together.
Intrapersonal – Deep self-awareness and understanding of one's own needs. An example is a poet who can translate complex inner experiences into words that resonate with others.
Naturalistic – Recognizing and understanding patterns and objects in nature. This could be someone who can name any plant in a garden, or someone who’s an avid bird watcher.
The idea gained momentum in education because it made intelligence feel more expansive. It recognizes strengths that traditional IQ tests overlook and helps people appreciate the real-world worth of their own abilities.
The Catch
Like many frameworks that help us understand ourselves better, Gardner's theory has sparked both enthusiasm and debate in scientific circles. While neuroscience suggests our abilities are more interconnected than separate, the real value of this model lies in how it expands our thinking about human potential.
Consider it less as a rigid scientific classification and more as a lens for self-discovery:
Which intelligences do you naturally gravitate toward?
Which ones do you overlook in yourself?
Which ones do you admire (or rely on) in others?
Why This Matters for Your Career
Understanding this broader spectrum of capabilities can open up new possibilities in how you think about your career and contribution.
Hidden Strengths: That "side skill" you've always dismissed might be your untapped superpower.
Maybe you're the team member who volunteers to create visuals to explain complex ideas (spatial intelligence) or the one who instinctively knows how to make systems more efficient (logical-mathematical intelligence).Energy Management: Notice when you feel most energized at work.
Are you lighting up during storytelling sessions but dragging yourself through data analysis tasks? That could be your intelligence profile giving you valuable feedback about where you thrive.Role Evolution: Understanding your strengths can help you to reshape your current role or identify exciting new directions to explore.
Someone with a high interpersonal intelligence might evolve from project management to team coaching. A person with a strong naturalistic intelligence might pivot their product skills toward sustainability initiatives.
Living Example: Esther Perel
Sometimes the clearest way to see this is to look at someone who’s built a career by leaning into their natural intelligences.
Take Esther Perel. She is a world-famous therapist who has also built a modern media platform around her therapeutic work. She has published two bestselling books, hosts podcasts heard by millions of listeners, sells out conference talks and runs courses for other therapists. If this is your first time learning about her, I strongly recommend listening to her podcasts.
At the core of everything she does is her interpersonal intelligence: a deep understanding of human behavior and the ability to connect instantly with clients and audiences alike. That’s what makes her a great therapist.
She layers this with linguistic intelligence, sharp storytelling skills across multiple formats — and she’s fluent in nine languages. All of this combined has propelled her to become one of the most prolific and respected figures in her field.
This is a reminder that careers grow not by acquiring random skills, but by leaning into a natural skill, your own intelligence, and building around it.
The same applies to you.
Once you recognize your anchoring intelligence, you can look for others that naturally complement it, and use that mix to shape the way you work and grow.
Try this: Take some time to explore your intelligence profile:
List the eight intelligences and rank your top three – not based on what you think is valuable, but on what energizes you the most.
For each of your top three intelligences, write down:
A time you used it successfully at work
A current challenge where it might offer a fresh approach
A potential career direction where it would be essential to success
You can download the PDF I designed with the exercise and space for you to fill out 👇Download
The goal isn't to completely reinvent your career overnight, but to start recognising and intentionally using more of your natural strengths in your professional life.
Want to explore how clarity on your top intelligences can lead to more fulfilling work?