It's no secret that job seekers will find slim pickings in their search for gainful employment in 2009. Layoff rates aren't slowing, and there are already more people competing for fewer open jobs than in any time in recent history. Faced with these odds, the best way to position yourself for the job hunt is to . . . steer clear of it. In other words, keep the job you have, put your emotional intelligence to work, and ace your performance review.

Of course, that sounds easier said than done. After all, layoffs are out of your hands, aren't they? Well, yes and no. If your whole department gets cut, then yes, you don't stand much of a chance of retaining your current position. However, no smart company is going to let go of top performers, especially when the need for solid performance is at an all-time high in virtually every organization across all industries. When the time comes to thin the workforce in your organization, those whose performance is lagging will be the most obvious prey for dismissal.

So, how can you establish yourself as a star instead of a straggler?

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the single most important predictor of workplace success. Job experience and IQ certainly have their place, but neither of these other factors holds more sway in the realm of job performance than a person's ability to understand and manage his or her own emotions and those of other people.

Consider these facts:

• EQ explains up to 58% of a leader’s job performance

• 90% of top performers are high in EQ

• Just 20% of low performers are high in EQ