When we feel good, we work better. Feeling good lubricates mental efficiency, facilitating comprehension and complex decision-making. Upbeat moods help us feel more optimistic about our ability to achieve a goal, enhance creativity and predispose us to being more helpful. How does emotional intelligence contribute to our professional success? The higher you climb the corporate ladder and the more people … Read More
Emotional Intelligence and Income
You can be a top performer without emotional intelligence, but it’s rare. People with a high degree of EI make more money—an average of $29,000 more per year than those with low EI. The link between emotional intelligence and earnings is so well founded that every point increase in EI adds $1,300 to one’s annual salary. These findings hold true … Read More
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
As a leader, you set the emotional tone that others follow. Our brains are hardwired to cue in (both consciously and unconsciously) to others’ emotional states. This is particularly true for leaders. People want to know how a leader feels and will synchronize with authorities they trust. The emotional tone that permeates your organization starts with you as a leader, … Read More
How to Develop Emotional Intelligence
Research by Goleman and other experts supports the view that emotional intelligence (EI) can be learned, and it seems to rise with age and maturity. In 2005, TalentSmart measured the EI of 3,000 top executives in China. The Chinese leaders scored, on average, 15 points higher than American executives in self-management and relationship management. To compete globally, the United States … Read More
Five Golden Rules for Leadership
Are leaders born or made? One could argue for either position. The real issue is that all leaders can improve. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a high-potential team member, you can boost your performance in five crucial leadership areas. More than half a million business books deal with leadership acumen, but studying the most respected experts’ ideas reveals a … Read More
How Do the Five Golden Rules Fit in with Other Leadership Theories?
Leadership has evolved from the military models of centuries ago to contemporary theories of scientific management, situational leadership, servant leadership and other widely discussed styles. The primary principles of effective leadership nonetheless remain consistent. Without effective leadership skills, no one will follow you. Here’s a look at some traditional leadership theories, based on the key questions journalists ask to uncover … Read More
Understanding the Five Roles
Most people are naturally predisposed to excel in one or two of the first four roles: strategist, executor, talent manager and human-capital developer. Some are big-picture strategists and future-oriented, while others love getting things done or engaging people for high performance. If you’re in a more senior role, you’ll need to branch out from your predisposed areas of excellence. You’ll … Read More
How to Be More Forward-Looking
What single quality differentiates high-potential leaders from ordinary contributors in an organization? It’s their ability to be forward-looking and focus on the future. To become a better leader or distinguish yourself as someone primed for promotion, you’ll want to develop your capacity to envision the future. Focusing on the future sets leaders apart. The capacity to imagine and articulate exciting … Read More
What People Want from Leaders
Leadership professors Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes, after surveying thousands of people on ideal leadership qualities, reveal that the ability to look forward is second only to honesty as the most admired trait. On average, 70 percent of workers worldwide select “forward-looking” as a key leadership competency. Think about the leaders you’ve followed or admired. The great ones are visionaries … Read More
How Far Can You See?
Do you look beyond what’s in front of you, especially when daily tasks take up so much time and energy? How do you become future-oriented and still handle day-to-day challenges? While the ability to focus on the future separates leaders from the rank-and-file, many of us fail to understand and appreciate its importance. We devote almost no time to developing … Read More