Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader: A Guide to Cultivating Effective Leadership and Organizations by Connors Christopher D

Author:Connors, Christopher D. [Connors, Christopher D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Published: 2020-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

First Steps

Are you willing to do the hard work of getting to know yourself more deeply than you ever have?

Are you prepared to ask yourself the tough questions and answer them with clear eyes?

Are you going to go after what you really want, even if it feels uncomfortable?

I start with these three questions because the answers are essential to increasing your emotional intelligence. If you’re serious about boosting your EQ and becoming a sought-after thought leader, you have to focus first and foremost on yourself. Chapter 2 , on the pillars of emotionally intelligent leadership, started with self-awareness for a reason. It all begins with self-awareness, with knowing who you really are. As you’ll see in the first activity at the close of this chapter, I give you five ways to start.

The work begins, as we’ve previously discussed, by spending time on yourself first. If you’re going to lead others effectively, you need to have your own house in order. In the executive coaching work I do, I talk about having a solid structure in place. I call this the “EQ Game Plan for Leaders.” As we discussed in chapter 2 on self-awareness, this means having clarity around your values, passion, purpose, mission, and goals. When you’re clear on these things, you build the self-confidence and motivation to grow into the vision of yourself you’ve imagined. In the same way that great companies have a vision, purpose, and mission, we can personalize these things for ourselves.

While your game plan will be relatively concise, it’s a lot harder to complete than you think. It requires that you get honest about your true self. To get to your authentic core as a person and leader, you need to hold yourself to a high standard with commitment and discipline. It’s here that you can begin to build the foundation for your life and career. Once you have your structure in place, you begin by doing some reverse engineering. Start with the results, not only in mind, but in writing! Write down exactly what you want to achieve—the results that you’re willing to work so hard for. From there, build backward to create exactly what you want.

Shifting to a longer-term strategy, I’m a major proponent of putting together a five-year plan for your life. I’ve heard this wisdom from Fortune 500 executives, CEOs, retired millionaires, and respected friends. I’ve heard it so often, and from so many people I admire, that it’s become one of most important building blocks I believe a leader should have.

There’s an astonishing power that takes hold in your life when you speak and write down your dreams. You simply need to will yourself to do it. It honestly is that simple, but it’s not so easy to sit down to do it. Any plan is only worth the self-sacrifice and commitment to action you’re willing to make. The best plans in the world are nothing if you’re not willing to act. Know this: You will need to adjust your plan.

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