Poker is a game that puts your analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the test. It is also a game that indirectly teaches many valuable life lessons.
One of the most important lessons that poker teaches is how to control your emotions. It is important to keep your stress levels low and your anger under control, especially in a world where it is increasingly common for people to lose their tempers. If your emotions get out of hand it can lead to negative consequences in both your personal and business life. Poker teaches you how to rein in your emotions and think logically about difficult situations which will help you in all areas of life.
Another lesson that poker teaches is how to read other players. This is not about making movie-like poker tells, but rather learning their patterns and idiosyncrasies. For example, if you see a player make frequent calls and then suddenly raises a lot, it is likely that they are holding a strong hand. By learning to read other players you can make better decisions under uncertainty, which is a key skill in finance and many other professions.
Poker also teaches you how to be patient and play strong value hands. If you have a good hand it is often better to raise than call, as this will price all of the worse hands out of the pot. This allows you to maximize the value of your strong hands and will help you win more hands overall.