What makes a good leader?
Every businessperson knows a story about a highly intelligent,
highly skilled executive who has promoted into a leadership position
only to fail at the job. And they also know a story about someone
with solid - but not extraordinary - intellectual abilities and
technical skills who has promoted into a similar position and the
soared.
Such anecdotes support the widespread belief that identifying individuals
with the "right stuff" to be leaders is more art than
science. After all, the personal styles of superb leaders vary:
some leaders are subdued and analytical; others shout their manifestoes
from the mountaintops. And just as important. Different situations
call for the different types of leader ship. However they are alike
in some crucial ways:
- They all have a high degree of emotional intelligence
- Self-aware job candidates will be frank in admitting to failure
- and will often tell their tales with a smile
- People who have mastered their emotions are able to roll with
the changes. They don't panic.
- They have a high degree of friendly social skill with a purpose:
moving people in the desired direction.
Emotional intelligence can be learned. The process is not easy.
It takes time and commitment. Without it, a person can have the
best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an
endless supply of smart ideas, but he/she still won't make a great
leader.
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