The EQ Difference
Adele Lynn
- 224 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The EQ Difference
Adele Lynn
About This Book
Co-published with SHRM. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a strong indicator of individual, team, and organizational success. But stocking up on emotionally intelligent employees isn't enough: you need a concrete plan for putting this valuable resource to work. The EQ Difference offers an array of self-assessment tools and team-focused exercises that will help increase and leverage emotional intelligence both in individuals and in groups. It's filled with practical tips and suggestions for developing your own ""emotional quotient, "" as well as that of your peers, employees, and even senior executives. Featuring real workplace examples, Letters to Leaders, and excerpts from actual performance reviews that show the positive impact of EI in a variety of environments, The EQ Difference will help your organization achieve greater productivity, higher morale, and better employee retention -- all keys to stronger bottom line results.
Frequently asked questions
Information
PART I | EMOTIONS |
The Fuel of Life |
CHAPTER 1
THE CONNECTION AMONG BEHAVIOR, FEELINGS, AND PERFORMANCE
ADELE: | Tell me the characteristics of the best boss you have every worked for, the boss that you'd do anything for, assuming that it was legal and moral. What characteristics describe him or her? |
FRANK: | A man of his word. High integrity. |
JIM: | Supports me to take risks. |
HAROLD: | Gives me the credit for the successes. |
JORGE: | He listened to my ideas. |
MARTHA: | She challenged me to reach higher. |
JEFF: | Cares about my development. |
JANET: | Respectful. |
KIM: | Open-minded. |
NILL: | My boss was very authentic. |
ADELE: | What else? |
GROUP: | (individually in turn) Easygoing. Genuine. Flexible. Recognized my efforts. Clearly stated expectations. Relentlessly looked for improvements. |
ADELE: | What else? |
GROUP: | Innovative. Creative. Self-directed. Inspiring. Compassionate. Sincere. Smart. Visionary. Decisive. Involved. Accessible. Organized. A mentor. |
ADELE: | Now, tell me about the characteristics of a bad boss, someone who you wouldn't want to work for. We'll just assume that you've never experienced a bad boss, but perhaps heard about these characteristics through the grapevine. Oh, and no names please. |
FRANK: | Micromanager. |
JORGE: | Self-serving. |
MARTHA: | Poor communicator. |
JANET: | Unavailable. |
JORGE: | Judgmental. |
HAROLD: | Clueless. |
ADELE: | Wow, I don't need to prime you for this one. |
GROUP: | Self-centered. Inflexible. Negative. Belittling. Unapproachable. Secretive. Controlling. Insensitive. Temperamental. Irresponsible. Opinionated. Demanding. |
ADELE: | Anything else? |
GROUP: | Untrustworthy. Indecisive. Risk-adverse. Blaming. Dishonest. Demeaning. Poor planner. Wishy-washy. |
ADELE: | Now, tell me how you feel when you work for this good boss. That's right I know it's not a word we usually use, but just go with it, please. Imagine it's Monday morning, and you're going to work, and here's what you find when you walk through the door. You find someone who has high integrity, is supportive, gives you credit, shows appreciation, listens, challenges you, is caring, who is easygoing and flexible, and cares about your development, and so on. |
FRANK: | I feel energized. |
KIM: | I feel confident. |
JANET: | I feel empowered. |
GROUP: | Happy. Appreciated. Trusted. Respected. Loyal. Creative. Competent. Independent. Productive. Motivated. Included. |
ADELA: | Anything else? |
GROUP: | Peaceful. Intelligent. Supportive. Supported. Inspired. Committed. Purposeful. Focused. Appreciated. Encouraged. Hopeful. Grateful. |
ADELE: | OK, now tell me how you feel when you work for someone who is a micromanager, who is also self-serving, a poor communicator, unavailable, judgmental, clueless, self-centered, inflexible, negative, clueless, unapproachable, secretive, controlling, insensitive, temperamental, irresponsible, opinionated, demanding, untrustworthy, indecisive, risk-adverse, blaming, dishonest, and of course, demeaning. |
BILL: | Anxious. |
KIM: | Frustrated. |
MARTHA: | Trapped. |
JEFF: | Tired. |
GROUP: | Sick. Stressed. Demoralized. Angry. Worthless. Stuck. Unproductive. Defensive. Hopeless. Abused. Smothered. Negative. Stagnant. Angry. Depressed. Annoyed. Revengeful. Stupid. Incompetent. Worthless. Sneaky. Indignant. Scared. |
ADELE: | OK, so you're going into work. It's Monday morning, and you are feeling anxious, frustrated, trapped, tired, sick, stressed, demoralized, and angry. Not only on Monday, but you continue to feel worthless, stuck, unproductive, defensive, hopeless, abused, smothered, negative, and stagnant on Tuesday and Wednesday and even Friday afternoon. What does that cause you to do or not do? Try to be specific. |
FRANK: | Job hunt. (Laughter.) |
HAROLD: | Call in sick. |
JEFF: | Go home early. |
GROUP: | Take as little risk as possible. Cover my tracks with E-mail. Hide in my office. Keep my mouth shut in meetings. Don't offer ideas or opinions. Reciprocate by treating my peers this way. Treat customers poorly. Lash out at others. Look for what others are doing wrong. Be defensive. |
ADELE: | What else? |
GROUP: | Save memos. Sabotage. Dump on others. Not concentrate on work. Look for opportunities to prove my boss is a jerk. Isolate myself. As little as possible. |
ADELE: | You're working for a person who is honest and caring, and supportive and gives you credit, shows appreciation, listens, challenges you, is easy going and flexible, and cares about your development. On Monday morning as well as Friday afternoon, you feel encouraged, inspired, empowered, competent, included, and so on. What does that make you want to do or not do? |
KIM: | Stay with the company. |
BILL: | Work harder. |
HAROLD: | Come in early because I want to. |
FRANK: | Stay late. |
GROUP: | Look for ways to improve my area. Deliver more. Volunteer. Take risks with ideas. Be creative. Offer ideas and opinions. Treat my staff well. Encourage others to come up with ideas. |
ADELE: | Anything else? |
GROUP: | Bring donuts. Speak well about the company on the outside. Recruit others to the company. Display a positive attitude to others. Reciprocate with peers. Treat customers well. |
ADELE: | Congratulations! You just made the business case for why emotional intelligence is important in the workplace. And a growing body of research confirms what you have just said. |