Emotional Intelligence: the Key to Leadership Success

Dr. Jan Richards ( jrichard@nu.edu)ASBBS Conference

Las VegasFebruary, 2007

Emotional Intelligence is twice as important as IQ in predicting

career success

• “School leaders fail not because they lack the brains, determination, knowledge and technical skills, but because of what is characterized as ‘style’ or ‘people skills’” (Bloom, 2004).

Assuming that your Emotional Intelligence is directly linked to leadership success, three

questions need to be considered:

• (1) What is Emotional Intelligence?

• (2) Why is it important? And

• (3) How can my Emotional Intelligence quotient be increased?

What is Emotional Intelligence?

• It’s “the basis for personal qualities such as realistic self-confidence, integrity, knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses, resilience in times of change or adversity, self-motivation, perseverance, and the knack for getting along well with others” (Cherniss and Adler, 2000, p.1)

Goleman suggests that there are four clusters of important competencies that make up such Emotional Intelligence:

self-awareness, self-management, social awareness,

and relationship management

Self Awareness: The Core of Emotional Intelligence

• Leaders who are self-aware know their strengths and limitations

• they have the ability to stay true to their own feelings, values, and vision.

• They use emotion in their decision process and tend to be reflective.

• These leaders are also aware of areas that need improvement and make continuous improvement a priority in their lives.

• Star performers know themselves well, are aware of their limits, and know where they need to improve.

Coping strategies for trying times

• solitude and meditation

• journaling

• processing with a respected friend.

• such actions can help you work through difficult situations with energy and wisdom.

Self Management• Leaders who manage their emotions well have the

ability to remain optimistic and to maintain self control.

• They find ways to manage negative emotions and impulses and to persist in seeking goals despite obstacles and setbacks.

• They value initiative and innovation, seeking new ideas and solutions and are not afraid of failure!

• Such a leader is perceived as transparent and authentic, a person with integrity who will do the right thing—even if it’s unpopular.

Good Self-managers...

• take responsibility for their actions.

• seek high performance achievement and self-improvement.

• work to be conscientious, organized, and careful about their work, to be punctual, self-disciplined, and helpful.

• The key competence here is optimism!

Social awareness• Socially aware leaders are able to read power

relationships and networks—an ability that helps manage conflict and avoid pitfalls.

• They are empathetic and are seen as interested in others and what they are feeling.

• They relate well to people from varied backgrounds and can understand multiple perspectives in a conflict situation.

• Empathetic leaders give positive and negative feedback in a way that is supportive and helpful.

Relationship management (or social skills)

• Successful leaders understand the Pygmalion effect—that expecting the best from people is often a self-fulfilling prophecy

• A star leader will show people she appreciates them while giving them a consistent stream of positive and constructive performance feedback and praise.

Why is Emotional Intelligence Important?

• Emotional Intelligence and social competences predict career success more accurately than does personal IQ.

• it can make the difference between principals who are successful in getting people to follow their leadership, to cooperate and work together—and

• school leaders who are just going through the motions, who are ineffective, undistinguished, or failing at the job.

Can My Emotional Intelligence Quotient Be Increased?

• The good news is that your Emotional Intelligence is not a fixed trait.

• Emotional Intelligence continues to develop as we learn from our experiences.

FIVE DISCOVERIES leaders need as tools for building emotional intelligences:

• Discovery 1: My ideal self: Who do I want to be?

• Discovery 2: My real self: Who am I? What are my strengths and gaps?

• Discovery 3: My learning agenda: How can I build on my strengths while reducing my gaps?

• Discovery 4: Experimenting with and practicing new behaviors, thoughts, and feelings to the point of mastery.

• • Discovery 5: Developing supportive and trusting relationships that make change possible.

In conclusion,

• “To be able to coach oneself through the difficult times in life influences not only our own lives, but also the lives of our friends, family members, and others who are close to us” (Bocchino, 1999, p. xiii)