Emotional intelligence is how we handle ourselves and how we manage our emotions. Our emotional intelligence determines our effectiveness. "There is a direct correlation between the emotional intelligence of leadership...and how it performs." We all know leaders who are unrealistic about themselves and have unmet emotional needs.
"Emotional intelligence has to do with self-mastery. It makes outstanding individual performers."
"Leadership depends on everyone else. It requires empathy and requires skilled interaction (social intelligence)."
It begins with willing listening.
Goleman discusses behavioral science. It shows that when we succumb to emotion it reduces our capacity to reason and solve problems. Strong emotions flowing from the amygdala can literally shut down our processing centers in the frontal cortex. Anger hijacks judgment.
He discusses how Southwest Airlines' Herb Kelleher engaged those around him. "Social intelligence is being able to tune into other people...and using that to communicate effectively with them." Strong leaders can "read the room."
"We can change our habits at any point if we're motivated, if we know what to do, and if we have a little help." He describes five elements:
- Do you care?
- Get some feedback. (We're our worst judge.) Anonymity of answers can help.
- Identify strengths and weaknesses. Where can I improve?
- Make an agreement with ourself to improve at every opportunity.
- Follow through over months.
How does this apply to us?
Improving individual performance requires commitment and time. What is the comfort level of being with another person or group?
Emotional intelligence needs are not unique to any group. The slide from Practicing Excellence discusses how physician coaches can help to improve underperforming physicians.
Do we want to be thoughtful, self-correcting, empathetic, and trustworthy or autocratic and dictatorial? Basketball's Steve Kerr lies in the former camp and disgraced Sunbeam executive "Chainsaw" Al Dunlap in the latter. We choose.
Bonus:
Gordon Hayward fakes action off the cross-screen and scores off the basket cut in last night's Celtics' exhibition.