Emotional Intelligence Predicts True Leadership

by John Keyser

I read a recent article from BloombergBusinessweek forwarded to me by Christina Kposowa, an extremely capable public relations professional here in D.C. I am so glad she sent it along as it is music to my ears.

The article, titled “Want an MBA From Yale? You’re Going to Need Emotional Intelligence,” discusses a Yale MBA program that tests the emotional intelligence (EI) skills of its MBA candidates.

Apparently Notre Dame, Dartmouth and some other MBA programs are doing the same, and good for them, for two reasons. First, our EI is a prime indicator of our success in business (and in leadership as well as our overall happiness). It’s even more important than our intelligence (IQ) and our subject knowledge. It’s about people wanting to work with us, follow us. Thus, Yale will make more informed and intelligent selections of and subsequently developing its students. Also, it sends the message to MBA candidates that their ability to manage their emotions, sense the feelings of others, and establish and maintain relationships are critically important skills. Their EI really matters.

Business is all about relationships. If people trust us, sense that we truly care about them, and feel that we are genuine, then they want to be on our team. They want to do business with us.

Our EI is about our empathy and our ability to read others, which are so important in maintaining rock-solid relationships.

And it seems the opposite is true, i.e. people can spot it from a mile away if we are self-absorbed, insincere, or undependable.

I wish more businesses would test their people for their EI, help them gain a baseline of their skills and encourage their efforts to improve in areas that would help them become more effective as leaders and teammates.

There are various EI assessments, some simple and quick, some more in depth. All are worthwhile and could very well help our effectiveness in business and our leadership.