In today’s workplace there is increasing diversity, rapid change and constant innovation. Having a high IQ or intelligence is not enough to be successful. If anything, an extremely high IQ can interfere with the ability to succeed if there is an inability to relate effectively to others. Some studies show only 20% of Valedictorians are successful. Conversely, we all know examples of people who never finished college and are multi- millionaires. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Brian Williams are examples of people who have achieved success without earning a college degree and have done quite well for themselves.

So what is needed to be successful in today’s world, not just in the business world, but also in life? It’s not your Intelligence Quotient (IQ)–it’s your Emotional Quotient (EQ). People may have extra-ordinary intelligence but severely lack common sense or interpersonal skills.

What is emotional intelligence (EI)? EI has to do with the ability to navigate the world. EI is the ability to access, manage and make use of feelings. IQ, academic ability and achievement may land the job–EQ gets the promotion.

The primary component of EQ deals with self-awareness, that is, knowing and being responsible for yourself. Enhanced self- awareness leads to self-responsibility and exceptional relational skills are the result. The bottom line in business reflects how you manage your emotions and interact with people, i.e. your social skills, self-management, flexibility and the ability to deal with change.

In The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace (2001), edited by Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss, the emotional competencies that differentiate superior from average performers are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management.

Examples of EQ

After the WTC Bombing a reporter asked New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, how many people had died in the collapse. He responded, “We don’t know the exact number yet, but whatever the number, it will be more than we can bear.”

In that statement, he performed a masterful act of leadership. He spoke with conviction, from the depths of his heart and in a way that resonated with our own unspoken feelings.

Great leaders move us deeply. They inspire us by connecting with our feelings. What makes a leader shine is quite similar to whether they head a major company, chair a nonprofit Board or run their own household.

How to recognize EQ in the workplace

It is easy to identify workplaces where emotional intelligence is valued and demonstrated. Morale and productivity are equally high. Communication is clear and open at all levels within the organization. The energy level is vibrant; creativity and innovation is encouraged and supported. The mission statement is not just a plaque on the wall–employees live the mission statement in word and deed. There is a passion for excellence that is shared by all. Collaboration is combined with unique individual expression. Competition is not to ‘beat someone’ but for the team to win.

How to create an EI workplace

To create a ‘smart workplace’ high in EQ, management commits to establishing an environment that is collaborative, creative and values-based. For this to work effectively, leaders model the roles and values they espouse and wish others to emulate. People model what they see much more than what they are told. If the leaders are working smart and with heart, which is what emotional intelligence does, they are more likely to elicit that response in others.

An emotionally intelligent workplace is created when individual strengths are acknowledged and affirmed. The result is high motivation that is reflected in peak performance. It is important to seek employee input, ask their opinion, lead by walking around. Interface with employees in ways that value their contribution rather than threaten their sense of security. Create a workplace that embraces change and sees it as a natural step in the move toward success.

Benefits of EQ

Employers who manage their own emotions by relating successfully to their employees will naturally create a workplace where people want to show up every day. The right employees will be hired and promoted and turnover will be low. Stress levels will lower and communication will flow easily and freely throughout the organization. Since creativity is encouraged and supported, innovation and flexibility will be a hallmark of this organization. Change is welcomed and embraced. All of these benefits result in a more productive and profitable workplace.

“A man should never neglect his family for business.”-Walt Disney

Home is not a just a street address. Home is a shelter from life’s storms. It is a place to begin again. Home is a place, not where they HAVE to take you in, but a place where they WANT to take you in. Home resides inside your heart, and that awareness evolves throughout our lives. An emotional “home” is created when someone loves us on our “being” and not our “doing”–even when we miss the soccer goal, don’t hit our numbers, or aren’t on top of our game. Home is a feeling within that “everything will be ok.” This doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen. They will and they do – but when you have a sense of “home” inside of you, you have a place to go when ‘trouble calls you home.’ You have inner resources to deal with those tough external circumstances. You know you will be okay regardless of what’s happening “out there.”

Without exception, a loving supportive family is the top priority and highest source of meaning of every leader interviewed for my book, The CEO Evolution. Leaders speak to the regenerative power of strong marriages and family bonds, not only as a major source of strength but also as deep fulfillment. Personally speaking, for me, family is a place of renewal. The security afforded by a strong family is like a fortress against the powerful winds of change or the winter seasons of life. Regardless of external events that may threaten and challenge, when there is the safety of family or friends and the retreat of home, we can find an inner strength that soothes and propels us forward. Strong families or deep personal bonds ensure that we thrive in our social being and professional achievements. Family relations can closely mirror our most important work and business relationships, all indicators of trust levels. To succeed in any kind of relationship, you must reciprocate in sharing your essence or soul. When Essence—what makes you YOU– is acknowledged, valued, and nurtured you will soon find that bonding and loyalty grow in profound ways in your family and among your team members.

Remember, home is not just a street address but rather a shelter from life’s storms. As such, it’s important for any brilliant leader to be able to bring this peace, serenity, and sense of well-being to those they lead. You will find that the benefits of providing such a haven will reap immeasurable rewards both personally and professionally.

If you’ve read my Blog very often you know I consider Gratitude one of the most significant gifts we can give ourselves.  You can quickly identify people who color their world and life with Gratitude.  They treat people differently, regardless of whether it’s the waiter that serves them, the cashier at Wal-Mart, an employee that reports to them, or even a family member.  They have a different presence about them.  They notice the small things as well as the big ones.  They say thank you.  They focus on YOU.  They aren’t petty and small and do not derive pleasure from anyone else’s misfortune or pain.  They don’t engage in gossip.  The list goes on and on of how people who fill their life with gratitude are different.  I’m sure you can think of other traits yourself.

Gratitude and Football?

In the world of professional football, Tim Tebow has been the talk of most news programs recently.  He is a ‘less than skilled’ quarterback, his passes are often ‘wobbly’, and he isn’t the fastest man on the field.  But, he has retained his composure amid an avalanche of criticism the first half of the season as he stood on the sidelines before becoming the first string quarterback.  This has garnered him an impressive 7-1 record.  What is especially noteworthy about Tim Tebow is not his ability to win games someway somehow.  It’s also not only his devotion to his faith that he openly professes.  What makes TIm Tebow unique is his kind and compassionate spirit.  Even when his receivers drop the ball, he encourages them.  When they are down 10 points in the last 2 minutes he is inspiring his team to keep pushing.  He appreciates what he has been given and uses his gifts to help those around him.

Does it surprise you that having gratitude in your life results in more success?  It shouldn’t.  Research shows that leaders who are compassionate and encouraging create a higher performing workplace achieve outstanding results. Tebow certainly exemplifies this research.  He epitomizes gratitude in action and elicits the same response in others.

On of the questions I asked my clients, colleagues, or the CEO’s I interviewed for my book was if they considered themselves to be a grateful person.  The majority said yes and that they felt very blessed in their lives.  A good example for all of us to follow.

I invite you to become a grateful person–feel gratitude, express gratitude and see how gratitude can change the color and texture of your life regardless of the season!

• Determination
• Persistence
• Integrity
• Responsibility
• A Deep Sense of Spirituality
• Luck
• Commitment to Family

Most did not define success in financial terms, even though most of the executives profiled came from poverty or lower middle class and many were the first in their families to go to college.  Almost all have had someone who believed in them, and they make family a top priority.  Most of the inspired CEOs do not plan to retire, but if they do, they will continue to be involved in giving back to the community and making a difference. The majority said that if they died today their lives would be complete.  All participants are concerned about leaving a quality legacy.  Everyone interviewed wanted to be remembered for leaving the world better than they found it.  The most outstanding complaint among these business leaders was their perception that time is the enemy.  Finding balance between the personal and professional arenas is the number one struggle for most executives.

Failure and Family

Typically, the leaders profiled were not afraid to fail; they have often allowed their failures, firings or challenges to propel them forward to success.  Although most participants did ot have catastrophic failure, many said they learned from mistakes along the way.  The consistent regret was not having spent more time with their families. One memorable comment was offered by a male CEO; he wished he had married his wife earlier!  Notably, many male executives credited their wife or partner as a primary factor in their success, whereas very few female executives made mention of her husband or partner as she scaled the corporate ladder and broke more glass ceilings.

The Right Place at the Right Time

All leaders I profiled were self-motivated, self-directed, with a powerful “Just do it” attitude.  Almost all expressed gratitude and were grateful to God for their success.  Most interesting, a majority attributed their success to luck, being unusually blessed, and having great mentors.  Others thank “fate”, and feel they were ‘in the right place at the right time’ rather than attributing success to their own skill or intellect.  This is not to say they did not work hard and were not bright and highly skilled, but in describing their success journey, they all mentioned luck, blessings, or how things ‘fell their way.’

They Were Surprised by Their Success

Most surprising is that many of these top business leaders are surprised by their success; they had never dreamed their lives would be what they are.  Many said their children or marriages are their greatest accomplishment.  All of the leaders claimed to have good support systems, and they report low levels of stress.  They claim that they love or ‘really like’ their lives, and engage in self care, such as exercise, socializing, or a quiet walk in the park.  Many still have friends from their childhood.  Very few of these executives said they celebrate their own successes, but most celebrate the success of and with their team.  Many practice awareness of their own thoughts, and are intentional
about ‘thinking the thoughts’ that elicit the results they desire.

The above are good lessons in leadership as we all continue to strive for brilliance in our lives and our leadership.

“Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds…to look from a higher plateau than the last generation.”

~Ellison Onizuka, Astronaut-Challenger

How does one navigate the treacherous crossing from the Information Age to the Inspiration Age?  How can you know for sure if your leadership is “sea-worthy” enough to withstand the tremendous sea change now transforming business in ways we can only begin to imagine.  With exponentially faster technology and a generation concerned with a moral imperative for higher consciousness in business, the inevitable transformation is already influencing leadership and accountability.  We are all striving to see past the horizon and peer into the future to anticpate vast complexities before they arise.  One thing is certain, the very fabric of time is changing.  Leaders must understand the scope of changes and adapt to meet them.

If the Information Age has taught us anything, it is there are no secrets.  If a leader builds a “house of cards”, it will only fall faster.  Today, a leader’s activity is viewable and ‘Google-able’ 24/7, leaving a communication trail decades long.  The preventative maintenance solution is really simple.  Be honest.  Be careful.  Living to real values is safe and exciting.  Succeeding with honesty is fulfilling.  It’s not a time for leadership to become more secretive but a time to be more open, more revealing, more authentic, more extracting, and more decisive.

The emerging paradigm shift requires a new leadership model to handle increasing complexities with greater inspiration and emotional endurance.  In the past, traditional leaders were authoritarians who simply dictated roles and objectives; whereas inspired leaders contain authority, exude presence and practice gratitude and humility.  Through awareness and caring, they invite others to step into their own brilliance; they naturally elicit the wisdom of others, by simply using the power of their presence.  They believe in and trust others to be brilliant, knowing that people “perform up” to the expectations of a great leader.

Are you prepared to navigate the unknown and manage vast complexities that will arise? While it’s impossible to see past the horizon of what we know, the corporate paradigm shift is loosely envisioned.

As a message of hope, I encourage you to yield to your CEO cynicism and participate in creating a future that is life-affirming, profitable, enjoyable, trusting, and peaceful.  Part of self-mastery is the ability to use eyesight and vision at the same time, to be in the present yet sense the future with accuracy.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

Profit

Typically, companies put profits first and human beings far behind. However, “The CEO Evolution™” encourages you to take “the road less traveled” and challenge those priorities. As a movement, this leadership evolution places humanity first, as do most of the inspired leaders featured throughout this book. More than extending goodwill, more than investing in human capital, more than championing a good employee, inspired CEOs lead from a heartfelt concern for humanity, and that in itself enhances profitability, corporate culture, and ultimately, legacy.

Inspiration

In the post-ENRON era, we are all searching for new pathways to inspirational leadership. Research and cocktail conversation confirm that “cynicism is at an all-time high and trust at an all time low.” Our cynicism applies to the shared perception of today’s CEO, many of whom have rightfully earned reputations for greed, power, dishonesty, and aggression. My work, however, has brought me into contact with a very different kind of CEO, exquisite leaders, inspired men and women who have a mission far greater than their role to title.

These unsung CEOs of character are the basis of my study, for it appears, in addition to bringing their skills and competence to work they also bring their souls as well. The leaders demonstrate that the evolved executive’s mission is not only about growth and profit. Their “meta-mission” is that of eliciting the best in others by inspiring and empowering them, and when needed, visioning for their highest good. For example, no one can listen to Coach Bill Curry’s explanation of “the greatness of spirit within” and remain unstirred. Coach Curry’s words go right to the soul as he wields the truth he has earned and lived for himself. Like the highly evolved leader he is, Curry not only shares his power, he elicits and facilitates others’ to define, “own” and express their power. He reminds others that they too have the greatness of spirit within them. He provides a powerful mirror to his world of players, clients, family and friends.

Future

More than ever before, CEOs are caring about the greater good as well as the way they are perceived by others. To fairly describe today’s business leadership, it’s not all “ENRON, BP, Exxon” and the greedy profiteers. To the contrary, I am very pleased to work with a number of inspired CEOs and executives who live and lead from the “inside out.” These leaders are proof that inspirational leadership is actually more effective in today’s market, as it will most certainly be in future markets. These executives have either consciously or intuitively embraced the Brilliant Leader Model™ principles of practicing self-care, caring for others, being authentic, scheduling personal reflection time, and embodying their values on a daily basis. They are well-integrated individuals who understand the difference between their soulful “essence” and their social “persona.” They have summoned the courage to “bring their hearts to work” and it enhances their own impact and effectiveness as well as their team, and ultimately, their shareholders.

There are practical, business reasons to embrace the path of inspired leadership as the future speeds towards us.

Before the demise of the Braves was certain, Chipper Jones, who plays third base, said something to the team. Chipper is a 15 year veteran of the team and the young players look to him for counsel, advice and leadership. He commands a lot of respect and has shown himself to be a leader with his history of success. At one of the team meetings, he said, “Hey guys, we’re trying too hard. You have to let the game come to you.”

I was intrigued by the fact that a baseball player, not a psychologist, would make such a comment. That is right in line with my message, “When we let go there is flow.” The things that you can’t see, hear, or touch often shape very much what becomes your reality.

So, why is it so important for the game, or your life, or your work come to you?  There are several things that can happen as a result.

There Is a Place for Space

Letting the game come to you adds spaciousness to your mind and to your life. When you internalize the mantra “Let success come to you,” or “Let wisdom come to you” it adds space to your head. It allows you to lighten your load by no longer thinking “I’ve got to figure this out,” or “By the 15^th of next month I have to have this done” or whatever it is that we stress and push for. When you let things come to you, it provides room for creativity, the emergence of wisdom, miracles and dramatic insights. Add some space and let it come to you!

Struggle is Stressful and Stifling

The spirit of what Chipper Jones was saying is that the harder his teammates tried, the more mistakes were made. You could tell when they got up to bat that they were not at ease with themselves. They were struggling every time thinking, “I have to hit a homerun”. They weren’t thinking about getting on base but rather how many runs they needed to score.

We do the same thing in our work and life. Rather than taking one thing at a time, we get too focused on the end result and nothing is accomplished. As that phrase says “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch; mile by mile, it takes a while.”  There is such profound truth in that simple statement! Relax into what you are doing and trust you will have what you need. If you don’t have what you need, then have faith that you will find what you need, or meet the right people, or develop a particular skill or strength to help you achieve the goal.

If you let the game come to you, things will happen as they are supposed to, but as long as you struggle you will create stress. You will stifle your own creativity. So relax into your own inner wisdom.

Serenity Is Achieved

That leads to the third result of letting the game come to you. Serenity is a natural byproduct. This is not talking about a passive serenity where you sit at home hoping everything comes out OK and takes care of itself. This is the serenity that results from the perspective of what you are passionate about unfolding before your very eyes. You can be inspired, passionate, successful, AND have a serene presence and calmness about you.

You will find that answers, truth, people and circumstances will follow you when you allow room for space in your head and your life. If you struggle with it you will stifle what needs to happen, and you will block the serenity that can be a natural byproduct. So I invite you, in life and in work, to let the game come to you, and see the brilliance in yourself and others illuminate all around.