Master these 3 social skills to succeed at work, says Ivy League psychologist: They make you 'more employable'

When it comes to the workplace, “just be yourself” is bad advice, according to psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.

Authenticity is often touted as a desirable trait, says Chamorro-Premuzic, who is a professor of business psychology at Columbia University, but if you’re hoping to boost your career, you’re better off mastering skills like tact and self-control.

Having high emotional intelligence, which Chamorro-Premuzic defines as “the ability to understand and manage yourself and others,” is a “fundamental currency” in the workplace, he says.

“It makes you more employable, and it makes you more rewarding to deal with,” he says.

People who are successful at work know how to blend “social skills, empathy and attention to others’ perception,” as Chamorro-Premuzic says in his latest book “Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead),” published on Oct. 7.