In leadership development we hear a lot about Emotional Intelligence (or EQ). In his 1995 book “Emotional Intelligence”, Daniel Goleman brought the concept of emotional intelligence (EQ) to the mainstream of business theory. The key premise of EQ is it being separate and unique from a person’s IQ and/or technical skills. EQ is about understanding one’s self (goals, intentions, responses and behaviour), and understanding others and their feelings. EQ means that we can apply our emotions wisely in situations that call for emotionally guarded rather than logically smarter responses.
Goleman identifies the five domains of EQ as: 1) knowing your emotions; 2) managing your own emotions; 3) motivating yourself; 4) recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions; and 5) managing relationships. EQ embraces and draws from numerous other branches of behavioural theory, emotional theory and communications theory. By developing our EQ in the five EQ domains we can become more productive and successful at what we do, and we can help others to be more productive and successful too. The process and outcomes of EQ development also contain many elements known to reduce stress for individuals and organizations, by decreasing conflict, improving relationships and understanding, and increasing stability, continuity and harmony.
EQ is about how effectively leaders can work with others. And although there is clear evidence that EQ can be learned, it can be difficult to put it into practice and to know how it can be enhanced, mostly because it is so situational – different situations call for different EQ skills – and even more challenging – different situations will call for different EQ skills with different personality types and differing social/behaviour types.
Personality profiling can get very complex, but it is essential to have a general idea of where you fit. Even more importantly you must identify your personal behavioural type and understand that you are often blind to many of your own behaviours, so the best way to identify your behaviour style is to ask others.
And then you ask yourself and others close to you, how well am I doing with Goleman’s five domains of EQ: 1) How well do I know my emotions? 2) How well am I managing my own emotions? 3) How well am I motivating myself? 4) How well do I seem to recognize and understand other people’s emotions? and 5) How well do I appear to be managing relationships overall?
Emotionally intelligent people produce win-win relationships and outcomes for themselves and others. Such people develop a positive magnetic field of emotional attraction around them, and often are the owners of an ever-increasing network of social relationships and emotional support structures. Emotionally intelligent behaviours are only possible in a flow of positive human energy – so if your goal is emotional intelligence, then your awareness of your thoughts and feelings – ensuring that they are positive – is a critical skill.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.