Emotional Intelligence: It’s who you are……
We live in uncertain times. Today, the reality of change has changed our realities. In the competitive and driven world of today, leadership and initiative are qualities which every hand on deck is expected to possess. And with respect to leadership, here lies the catch.
What is it that separates the best from the rest? Shakespeare said, “Some are born great; some achieve greatness and yet others have greatness thrust upon them.” Extending the analogy to leadership, what separates the merely talented from the leaders of the masses?
If there is one quality that is the hallmark of a leader, it is Emotional Intelligence (EI), according to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership.
Leading in an unpredictable environment requires leaders who are flexible and who are able to modify their style according to the external demands. Goleman’s framework of EI stresses that leaders of this century will need to have a great deal of self-awareness on how their internal world relates and impacts others around them. Recent research conducted by Goleman and colleagues, identified six leadership styles that contributed towards an effective leader. Each of the following styles had some aspect of EI (i.e., coercive, authoritative, facilitative, democratic, pace-setting and coaching). Utilizing these styles would likely benefit the individual leader during times of unpredictable change.
True leaders, by virtue of their pedigree, face the impact of changing educational, social, political and additional financial forces in their units. They must strive towards acquiring this different competency of EI with the goal of creating a climate that nurtures and fosters life long learning.
So, the next time in life a change you sense, remember you arsenal of Emotional Intelligence.
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