Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Hands-On ... - always yours

4 LEADING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
• How do I hire the best people who can be our next Stars?
• How do I manage myself to keep all this in perspective and
perform at my best?
David Rock has said the brain knows only two states: Is this situation
a threat to me (with the inherent fear)? Or does this situation
offer reward (with possible release of pleasurable brain chemicals,
such as dopamine)? As you read the questions above, which state
does your brain go into? 4
EQ, IQ BRAIN DRAIN LOOP
Over my years of doing leadership training in corporations, I
have run, with hundreds of people, a business scenario simulation
that produces the same results every time. The basic components
of the activity mirror the stress in the daily workday, which accentuates
a threat to the brain. The lack of immediate answers and
the complexity of the task result in a brain freeze of sorts, where
less oxygen and blood flow are going to the brain’s executive functioning
area. As a result, both the EQ and IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
capacity are lowered, with unintended consequences that impact
the leader’s style and then the team climate. As you read this, ask
yourself if you experience these reactions and emotions daily.
The components of the scenario include the following:
1. Complexity: You have challenging problems without simple
solutions. There are new systems, new people and technology,
different cultures, differing needs to please, and interdependencies
on others to get your job done.
2. Urgency: Everything is important and has to be done now,
and you don’t know how to get it all done.
3. Individual performance pressure: You want to make sure
you do your job right and don’t see the bigger system issues
or problems that may be affecting you and others, or how you
are impacting others.
The results equal overwhelm and chaos, which lead to the following
consequences for the leaders and the team.