Although I still value emotional intelligence in leadership, through my graduate studies I have gained a greater understanding of leadership styles, people and relationships. Two key theories that have influence my current practice and leadership are Bascal's cycle of change and Sergiovanni's concept of feelings and emotions in leadership (hand, heart, and head of leadership).
Warren Bennis (n.d.) defines leadership as "a function of know yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realizing your own leadership potential" (O'Neill 2011, p.11). Bennis's definition of leadership aligns well with key values of my leadership philosophy.
Leadership philosophy values:
Self reflection: knowing yourself and your strengths and weaknesses
Passion: having a passion for your work
Building relationships and garnishing respect: respecting, knowing and engaging your team, recognizing achievements, and working towards common goals.
Diversity and inclusion: understanding, accepting, and valuing differences in people
Value, inspire, and empower people: recognizing and valuing contributions of every individual
According to Razik and Swanson (2010), the best leaders “know what they stand for and what they want, and they communicate that vision clearly and forcefully. They also know that they must understand and respond to the complex array of forces that push and pull organizations in many different directions” (p. 172). In order to deal with complex situations leaders must know themselves and stand for what matters most to them. Leaders play a critical role in this ever-changing world and will be put in challenging situations that will push and pull them in different directions. As they are being pulled in different directions, it is important to not lose sight of their values.
References: Razik, T.A. & Swanson, A.D. (2010). Fundamental concepts of educational leadership and management (3rd ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon. O’Neill, A. (2011). Manager to leader: Skills and insights for a successful transition. Australia: McPherson’s Printing Group.
Fall 2010 * Leadership is important in the world, in academic intuitions, and our society. A person’s leadership style is influence by cores values and beliefs that are important to that individual. Effective leaders possess many qualities and skills. I feel one of the most important quality leaders should possess is emotional intelligence in addition to their own style (some components may overlap).
Emotional Intelligence
The term “emotional intelligence” was first brought to light by Daniel Goleman. Goleman found in his research at 200 large global companies that the most effective leaders have one quality in common; “a high degree of emotional intelligence which includes self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill” (1998, p. 82). Below is a chart taken directly from Goleman’s article What Makes a Leader that defines each of the five components (1998, p. 88).
The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work
Definition
Hallmarks
Self-Awareness
the ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others
self-confidence
realistic self-assessment
self-deprecating sense of humor
Self-Regulation
the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods
the propensity to suspend judgment-to think before acting
trustworthiness and integrity
comfort with ambiguity
openness to change
Motivation
a passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status
a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence
strong drive to achieve
optimism, even in the face of failure
organizational commitment
Empathy
the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people
skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions
expertise in building and retaining talent
cross-cultural sensitivity
service to clients and customers
Social Skill
proficiency in managing relationships and building networks
an ability to find common ground and build rapport
effectiveness in leading change
persuasiveness
expertise in building and leading teams
Leaders learn from those around them and adapt as necessary to deal with diverse and evolving situations. While there are many other qualities that are important to leadership, emotional intelligence is one I feel is most important.
Reference: Goleman, D. (1998). What Makes a Leader?. In Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from Business Source Premier.
Fall 2012
Although I still value emotional intelligence in leadership, through my graduate studies I have gained a greater understanding of leadership styles, people and relationships. Two key theories that have influence my current practice and leadership are Bascal's cycle of change and Sergiovanni's concept of feelings and emotions in leadership (hand, heart, and head of leadership).
Warren Bennis (n.d.) defines leadership as "a function of know yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realizing your own leadership potential" (O'Neill 2011, p.11). Bennis's definition of leadership aligns well with key values of my leadership philosophy.
Leadership philosophy values:
According to Razik and Swanson (2010), the best leaders “know what they stand for and what they want, and they communicate that vision clearly and forcefully. They also know that they must understand and respond to the complex array of forces that push and pull organizations in many different directions” (p. 172). In order to deal with complex situations leaders must know themselves and stand for what matters most to them. Leaders play a critical role in this ever-changing world and will be put in challenging situations that will push and pull them in different directions. As they are being pulled in different directions, it is important to not lose sight of their values.
References:
Razik, T.A. & Swanson, A.D. (2010). Fundamental concepts of educational leadership and management (3rd ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon.
O’Neill, A. (2011). Manager to leader: Skills and insights for a successful transition. Australia: McPherson’s Printing Group.
Fall 2010
*
Leadership is important in the world, in academic intuitions, and our society. A person’s leadership style is influence by cores values and beliefs that are important to that individual. Effective leaders possess many qualities and skills. I feel one of the most important quality leaders should possess is emotional intelligence in addition to their own style (some components may overlap).
Emotional Intelligence
The term “emotional intelligence” was first brought to light by Daniel Goleman. Goleman found in his research at 200 large global companies that the most effective leaders have one quality in common; “a high degree of emotional intelligence which includes self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill” (1998, p. 82). Below is a chart taken directly from Goleman’s article What Makes a Leader that defines each of the five components (1998, p. 88).
The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work
realistic self-assessment
self-deprecating sense of humor
the propensity to suspend judgment-to think before acting
comfort with ambiguity
openness to change
a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence
optimism, even in the face of failure
organizational commitment
skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions
cross-cultural sensitivity
service to clients and customers
an ability to find common ground and build rapport
persuasiveness
expertise in building and leading teams
Leaders learn from those around them and adapt as necessary to deal with diverse and evolving situations. While there are many other qualities that are important to leadership, emotional intelligence is one I feel is most important.
Reference:
Goleman, D. (1998). What Makes a Leader?. In Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from Business Source Premier.