Mon 29 Mar 2010
In our most recent newsletter, The Leader’s Almanac, we are discussing “Leadership and the Emotional Edge”. An area of some debate is “What is the difference between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and IQ?” An easy way to differentiate between the two is suggested in The EQ Edge by Drs. Stein and Book.
Think of two or three mentors or leaders who have had the most positive influence on you and your career. When you recollect your experience, how many of the attributes fall into the IQ category of high intelligence? Perhaps they were outstanding professors, financial wizards or a source of immediate information–a walking wikipedia. How many fall into the EI category of “treats me with respect, shows integrity, listens deeply, and inspires me”? What do your answers tell you? Do they suggest that EI is at least as important—or even more so—that IQ?
April 15th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
when I think of a mentor, the president of a company I worked for, I remember how thoughtful he always was, how he cared for people and brought so much life to the workplace. He included me in his family activities, I even crewed on his sailboat and went to his son’s Bar Mitzvah. He is one of the smartest people I know but I think about his caring and being a family man more than his smarts.
April 15th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Jeni, it certainly sounds as if your mentor had a High EQ–more meaningful and memorable than his IQ. Thanks for commenting.