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In his groundbreaking article, "what makes a leader?"
Daniel Goleman said that the most effective leaders are
all alike in one crucial endowment—they all have a
high degree of emotional intelligence. He doesn't mean that
leaders do not require the usual IQ and technical skills,
but they, according to him, matter only as "threshold
capabilities" that enable one to attain an executive
position. Based on his research, Goleman says that "emotional
intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership". Even
the earlier studies carried out by David McClelland in 1996
reveal that the performance of divisions headed by managers
with a critical mass of emotional intelligence has surpassed
their goals by 20%. Emotional intelligence is thus considered
essential not only to get along with others, but also to
think clearly and take control of one's life so as to lead
businesses on success curve.
Emotional intelligence has five components: one, self-awareness—
having a deep understanding of one's own emotions, strengths,
weaknesses, needs and drives that enables them to be honest
with themselves and others as well because of which they
would neither be too critical nor unrealistically hopeful;
two, self-regulation—the ability to control or redirect
one's impulses and moods, have a tendency to think before
acting which makes ambiguity acceptable, besides being open
to change; three, motivation—a fashion to work for
reasons that go beyond money or status, a natural inclination
to pursue goals with energy and persistence; four, empathy—ability
to understand the emotional makeup of other people, having
the wherewithal to react to people according to their emotional
plane; and five, social skill—proficiency in managing
relationships and building networks by identifying the common
ground for building such rapport.
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