IQ might mean you are clever, but without a high EQ, you can never become an effective leader.
Madiba, the humblest of men & the epitome of a true leader – on one hand, caring & understanding of others, but was certainly no push-over….
So, what makes an effective leader?
Perhaps someone who is always calm, even under pressure?
Someone who has their team’s complete trust.
A person who listens to your input.
One who makes you feel comfortable approaching them with any issues you may have?
A leader who makes astute & confident decisions?
There is a name for it – this is a person with high emotional intelligence, or EQ.
Definition of EQ –
The ability to understand & manage your own emotions & of those around you.
For a leader, a high emotional intelligence is essential for success.
There are 5 key elements needed to possess a high EQ –
- Self-awareness
- Self-control
- Self-motivation
- Empathy
- Social skills
Self-awareness
Understanding the effect your emotions & actions can have on those in your presence. In leadership that needs a clear awareness of your strengths & weaknesses & behaving with some humility – leave the ego at home!
Tips:
- Run a journal – a few minutes out of your day to jot down how you’re feeling will help highlight your emotions in a situation.
- Breathe! If something has riled you, step out of the situation to gather yourself, rather then responding in haste.
Self-control
When you are in control, you rarely have outbursts of anger or bad temper. Neither do you rush into hasty decisions, without first weighing up all the factors to consider.
Tips:
- Be sure to be fully aware of your own values to be able to stay within them, when under pressure.
- Remain calm. If under severe pressure take a deep breath & count to 10. It really does work. If you are faced with an unbearable situation, move away until you are composed.
Self-motivation
Set your own sights high with very clear goals. Be continually driving to meet those goals.
Tips:
Keep focus of what you love about the job that you’re doing.
Always see a glass half full, rather than half empty.
Empathy
Is the ability to see a situation through somebody else’s eyes. As a leader it is an imperative skill as it builds trust & respect from your team.
Tips:
When in discussion with an employee, watch that their body language meets with what they are saying.
It can be deceptive & easy to pick up the wrong signals if you don’t.
Social skills
This is about effective communication. These leaders are able to stir up emotions amongst their team & when used for the good of the team, can create excitement & a positive vibe.
Tips:
Try & catch someone doing something right & then praise them for it.
Ensure that it is specific & relevant to their work.
Summary
To be an effective leader, one needs to develop EQ. Remember that is the ability to understand & manage your own emotions as well as of those of your team.
Happy selling,
Richard
We feel most inspired by humble leaders who have no need to convince others of their greatness. Humble leaders use their –
- skills
- knowledge
- experience
to bring people together to –
- increase sales
- improve production or quality
- & give back to their Team
Humanity
Humility authenticates our humanity.
We are all human & all of us have weaknesses & strengths.
Great leaders understand & accept their own strengths & weaknesses.
This f self-awareness is a key to the development of humility.
The “perfect” leader can never be thought of as authentic or genuine.
It is being self-revealing that connects people to the great leader.
People feel safe in that knowledge & therefore & accepted.
They are the open to guidance, coaching & self-improvement.
The humble leader is perceived to understand others issues.
Promoting others
Humble leaders understand the best way to prepare their team for success is to encourage, support and promote them to believe in their own potential for success.
They encourage skill & talent & the value of hard work.
The harder someone works, the easier it is for a leader to promote that person beyond their current level of success.
Humble leaders will even promote those they’ve helped groom into higher positions than their own. Promoting others is done to better the person & the company.
They have a natural understanding of the bigger picture; the more successful the enterprise the greater its leadership.
Humble Leaders use their success for the greater good, rather than for self-gratification.
Think of one just such leader who is special to you………………
Happy selling!
Richard
BizGro
O83 625 7721