Archive for Relationship Management

Daniel Goleman, a Harvard-trained psychologist who has become famous as an advocate of emotional intelligence, said “CEO’s are hired for their intellect and business expertise - and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.”
How do you get promoted and be successful once you get there?
An article by Hilary Fennell in the Irish Independent News, April […]

Geese flying in proper V formation can fly a 70% longer distance than a single goose flying alone. This happens because a goose creates an updraft that benefits the next goose in formation. Is there a lesson here?
For the geese, resilience is based on being in formation. For us humans, we might […]

Writers in the field of emotional intelligence like to cite brain science research. A new book, by Louann Brizendine, M.D., The Female Brain, says that research shows that, as compared to men, women have “More brain circuits for communication, reading emotions, social nuance, nurturing skills…” (p. xix.) And on p. 119, “…the female […]

A promising young division general manager, let’s say Tom, was up for a promotion. However, his promotion was being questioned due to complaints from direct reports and peers who were subject to angry outbursts and hostile emails. There were concerns on the upper levels about his suitability for increased responsibility and visibility, given […]

There is a big difference between having an emotion and it “having you.” You can have a feeling or you can be caught up in it. The trick is to have an awareness of the feeling. If we lack self-awareness, we are more susceptible to being caught up in a feeling. […]

Emotional intelligence starts with intention. When you start a difficult conversation with someone else, what is your intention? You will be emotionally intelligent when you pause to answer that question before you proceed with the conversation.
For example, let’s say Bob has not followed up on his promise to do a task […]

One of the biggest blocks to emotional intelligence and effective communication is emotional reactivity. You know how it is, you have all the best of intentions to have a productive communication with somebody and they say the “wrong thing” – the thing that pushes your “hot button”. Often it can be a criticism, […]

On the job we need to have both power and caring. Consider this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”
What thoughts does this quote prompt in you? Your answers will […]

Knowing What They Want is part of Emotional Intelligence.
When I was an MBA student at the Harvard Business School, marketing professors kept saying, “Know what business you are in!” That seems obvious on the face of it. However, seeing below the surface is the trick. For example, if you answered, “In this […]