(by Daniel Goleman, from "HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials")
Emotional intelligence is a group of five skills that enable the best leaders to maximize their own and their followers' performance:
Self-awareness. Knowing one's strengths, weaknesses, drives, values, and impact onothers.
Self-regulation. Controlling or redirecting disruptive impulses and moods. People who are in control of their feelings and impulses are able to create an environment of trust and fairness, which has a trickle-down effect. Secondly, people who have mastered their emotions are able to roll with the changes/punches and don't panic, or even lead the way.
Motivation. (Intrinsic motivation) Relishing achievement for its own sake.
Empathy. Understanding other peoples' emotional makeup. Important due to the increasing use of teams; the rapid pace of globalization; and the growing need to retain talent.
Social skill. "Friendliness with a purpose." Building rapport with others to move them in desired directions. Socially skilled people build bonds widely because they know that in fluid times, they may need help someday from people they are just getting to know today.
Last modified 16 December 2024