Leadership is a talent like any other. Just like any talent, leadership has to be developed and worked on consistently. We’re sure you have observed someone in your company who is extremely intelligent and gets promoted, only to fail shortly after. Just because someone has great ideas and an analytical mind doesn’t make them a great leader. Leadership is more than just a high IQ; it is about Emotional Intelligence as well. Emotional Intelligence has become an extremely popular topic and has helped innumerable people to understand and develop their leadership skills. Daniel Goleman, author of “Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ,” said, “IQ tells you what level of cognitive complexity a person can manage in their job: you need high levels for top management, the professions, [and] the sciences, while lower levels work fine in lower echelons.
Emotional Intelligence sets apart which leaders, professionals, or scientists will be the best leaders.” Emotional intelligence will help you develop your ability to lead and manage, whatever the conditions may be. In order to be a great leader, you must understand and know how to manage yourself first. Being aware of the people around you will help you to be a skilled leader. Just because you may have a high IQ does not mean that you will be a skilful leader. A great leader should have a balanced combination of both high IQ and EI. If you understand who you are and what your strengths are (self-awareness), and you know how to lead yourself (self-management), then you will be a better
leader. You will know how to read others and empathise. A good leader excels at leading themselves first.
If you can lead yourself first, then you will be better prepared to lead others. Being able to manage your own emotions, behaviour, and your own self will allow you to maximise your potential. self-management is about having the ability to display the right behaviours when your emotions are pointing in a different direction. Exemplary leaders should also be able to connect the people around them (others-awareness). Employees will follow their leaders if they are able to approach them and relate to them. If the leader has high EI, employees will feel more motivated and committed.
Leaders with high emotional intelligence generate excitement and enthusiasm within their followers, understand them, and are able to lead and guide their employees. Leadership is about relationships, which in turn is a highly emotional process. You can use emotional intelligence to build relationships. As a leader, having high EI will allow you to be more compassionate, more understanding, and interact more effectively with others. You will be able to inspire, influence, coach, and handle conflict (others management).
Explore Marcus’ – Coaching For Higher Emotional Intelligence Program
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