There is an brain fitness company called "BrainFit
Studio" whom they claim they can "train" EQ and well as
other brain fitness programmes from toddlers to seniors of every
brain fitness level : http://www.brainfitstudio.com ,
another EQ learning workshop from Victoria Carlton 's EQ4KIDZ by
the company September 21 International : http://www.september21.com.sg
,followed by a worldwide movement by Master Ryuho Okawa for
True Happiness, Love and Prosperity called "Happy Science" :
http://www.happy-science.org
not sure if this mean EQ can be cultivated as well.
Not only that, there are othering learning centre for
mind-development :
1) Genius Mind Academy : http://www.geniusmindacademy.com.sg
2) Brainfit Classroom : http://www.brainfitclassroom.com
3) Singapore Brain Development Centre : http://www.brain.com.sg
4) Kids Testing & Dyslexia Centre : http://www.kidsdyslexia.com.sg
5) Science Buddies Pte Ltd : http://www.sciencebuddies.com.sg
7) Learning Mastery : http://www.learningmastery.com
8) Education Advocators : http://www.myadvocators.com
9) BrainRx Singapore : http://www.brainrx.com.sg
10) Acure Brain Pte Ltd : http://www.acurebrainlab.com ,
http://www.thebrainshop.com
11) Elite Mind Learning Centre : http://www.elitemindlearning.com
12) InnerTalk Pte Ltd : http://www.innertalk.com.sg
13) Memory Vision Pte Ltd : http://www.remembernishant.com
14) Maxmind Corporation Pte Ltd : http://www.maxmind.com.sg
Led With EQ
Emotional intelligence is an essential
requirement for great leadership
THE term "emotional intelligence" (EI), often interchanged with
the term "emotional quotient" (EQ), became popular after Daniel
Goleman published his first book Emotional Intelligence in
1995.
In his best-seller Working with Emotional Intelligence,
Dr Goleman pointed out that IQ only accounts for 20 per cent of a
person's success in life; the rest is attributed to other factors
including EQ.
The discussion of EQ often begins with an emotional
challenge from Greek Philosopher Aristotle:
"Anyone can become angry - that is easy. But to be angry
with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for
the right purpose, and in the right way that is not easy" .
Typically, everyone gets anxious, frustrated, worried and
even angry at times. It's bad enough to feel these emotions,
but brain researchers have recently found that experiencing them
actually inhibits cognitive function. It's called cortical
inhibition, or the "amygdala hijack" as Dr Goleman termed it.
So the old saying, "I was so upset I couldn't think
straight"is actually true. Think about the last time you got mad at
yourse1f for hitting a bad golf shot. What typically happens to
your performance after that? It gets worse. When you experience
negative emotions, you are not as likely to make the best
decisions.
Key role
Studies have demonstrated that leaders who consistently
outperform their peers not only have the technical skills required,
but more importantly, have mastered most of the aspects of
emotional intelligence.
In the classic Harvard Business Review article, What
Makes a Leader? published in November-December 1998,
Daniel Goleman states that the most effective leaders are alike in
one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be
known as emotional intelligence.
It's not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant.
They do matter, but mainly as "threshold capabilities"; that is,
they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.
But his research, along with other recent studies,
clearly shows that emotional intelligence is an essential
requirement of leadership. Without it, a person can have the best
training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless
supply of smart ideas, but he still won't make a great leader.
There is growing evidence that the range of abilities
that constitutes what is now commonly known as emotional
intelligence plays a key role in determining a leader's success in
life and in the workplace.
Researchers have uncovered links between specific
elements ef emotional intelligence and specific behaviours
associated with leadership effectiveness and ineffectiveness.
Positive realism
Mood contagion stems from neurobiology. Positive behaviours -
such as exhibiting empathy - create a chemical connection between a
leader's and his or her followers' brains.
Good moods galvanise good performance, but it doesn't
make sense for a leader to be as chipper as a blue jay at dawn if
sales are tanking or the business is going under.
The most effective executives display moods and
behaviours that match the situation at hand, with a healthy dose of
optimism mixed in. They respect how other people are feeling - if
it is glum or defeated - but they also model what it looks like to
move forward with hope and humour.
How do you foster the neurobiological changes that create
positive behaviours and emotions in your employees? Dr Goleman and
his colleague and co-author, Richard Boyatzis, advise sharpening
your social intelligence skills.
When talking about leaders' moods, the importance of
resonance cannot be overstated. While Dr Goleman's research
suggests that leaders should generally be upbeat, their behaviour
must be rooted in realism, especially when faced with a crisis.
Emotional intelligence travels through an organisation
like electricity over telephone wires. Depressed, ruthless bosses
create toxic organisations filled with negative underachievers.
But if you are an upbeat, inspirational leader, you
cultivate positive employees who embrace and surmount even the
toughest challenges.
Emotional leadership isn't just putting on a game face
every day. It means understanding your impact on others - then
adjusting your style accordingly. It is a difficult process of self
-discovery - but essential before you can tackle your leadership
responsibilities.
Article by Sattar Bawany,senior vice-presldent of Bridge
Asia-Pacific and master executive coach of IPMA/EDA Asia Pacific.
He has over 25 years'experience in executive coaching,group
facilitation,and leadership development.For more
information,contact him at [email protected] or visit www.linkedin.com/in/bawany
