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

ARE YOU A STAR PERFORMER OR JUST AVERAGE? 49
In her 2010 book, The Power of Many, she describes her key
leadership values, many of which align with the EI competencies.
She writes, “I believe that being willing and able to actively listen
is a vital skill for any leader. Not only is listening the right thing to
do, an antidote to arrogance, it also leads to all sorts of competitive
advantages.” She saw the value of “the power of many” in building
the eBay community and wants to empower California voters to
experience its benefits. 69 (Communication)
Whitman was not flashy or charismatic like other CEOs, but
yielded her power in a folksy den mother approach where she is
nurturing values. She is non-threatening, easy to talk to, and selfeffacing.
She called herself “frumpy but I deliver.” (Trustworthiness)
Terry Semel of Yahoo! says, “Meg is Meg. She is exactly who
you meet. She is smart, straightforward, and to the point. She’s just
really nice to do business with.” 70 Clearly Meg Whitman is a Star
Performer in all four clusters.
Whitman’s net worth is $1.2 billion, and she pledged not to accept
a salary if elected to Governor. Her husband is a neurosurgeon at Stanford.
She recharges herself by spending time with her family, escaping
a few times a year to go fly-fishing at her husband’s family farm in
Tennessee.
Key Strengths/Competencies
• Confidence
• Initiative
• Leadership
• Achievement orientation
• Adaptability
• Change catalyst
• Service orientation
• Empathy
• Trustworthiness