L.E.A.D.E.R.

The last letter in this word is definitely not the least - it actually is the cornerstone of great leadership if you ask me. "R" stands for "Respect" - which I'm sure you know is earned not demanded...

With all that has been said about Respect, I sincerely believe that: "There is no respect for others without humility in one's self."*

Humility is such a powerful attribute for Leaders.

Respect isn't as much about what you call people as "how" you call them. There are several visible forms of Respect but the invisible ones are more important, more "apparent" & appreciated more...by many - very many.

With a slightly different take to it, Bryant H. McGill said

"One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say."

Looks like we've just come full-circle. Yes, a respectful leader is a good listener.**

References:

* Henri Frederic Amiel

** http://empowered-women-excel.blogspot.ca/2016/01/leader.html

L.E.A.D.E.r

Emotional Intelligence: For some inexplicable reason this topic kept coming up for me in December. As I dug into it I enjoyed a few articles* that I'll gladly share with you.

First and foremost, Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Quotient are used interchangeably - I wonder if it was to ensure that "Emotions" are introduced to interrupt our much touted "IQ" - Intelligence Quotient especially at work. 

This self-assessment and video (respectively)

https://hbr.org/2015/06/quiz-yourself-do-you-lead-with-emotional-intelligence  https://hbr.org/video/4421646384001/the-explainer-emotional-intelligence are a great starting point for this conversation - self-awareness is key to self-mastery. 

As a leader, it is imperative that you take this quote - which has been attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, John Maxwell and others to heart:

"People don't (& won't) care how much you know

until they know how much you care."

 

I don't believe that means we should become "softies," it just means that we need to be able to identify and differentiate between "Kleenex" and "Clean-up" moments. Caring about people includes actively developing them which inherently includes discipline if required. No, not the way you'd discipline a child but in a way to help the person not go off-track.

Our EQ though not tangible, but produce tangible results. We must create "enabling and empowering environments" for those we lead.

When I saw this picture, I smiled and said to myself, just as no-one can survive in life with only their brain, as leaders we must always take our hearts to work with us. I guess that's my definition of EQ/EI - it's taking our hearts to work with us and letting our head & heart collaborate.  

A lot more has been written on this key leadership skill than I can say on this topic so I encourage you to read some more.

Remember, readers are leaders and leaders are readers. Have a great month ahead.

*Further Reading

https://hbr.org/2015/04/how-emotional-intelligence-became-a-key-leadership-skill

https://hbr.org/2014/12/signs-that-you-lack-emotional-intelligence?cm_sp=Article-_-Links-_-Top%20of%20Page%20Recirculation

https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/connecting-and-news/cpa-magazine/articles/2015/december/mixed-feelings

https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/career-and-professional-development/professional-development/webinars/2015/march/emotional-intelligence-success-from-inside-out

https://hbr.org/2015/04/how-to-look-for-emotional-intelligence-on-your-team

https://hbr.org/2015/04/how-to-help-someone-develop-emotional-intelligence

https://hbr.org/video/2851426213001/how-diversity-fuels-group-emotional-intelligence 

https://hbr.org/2015/04/emotional-intelligence-doesnt-translate-across-borders