Emotional Intelligence for Promotions

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 busines expertise - and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence." How to get promoted and be successful once you get there? An article in the Irish Independent News, April 10, 2008, www.independent.ie/business, asserts that the skills you need to get promoted into senior management have changed. The old style relied on using power and authority to command and control. The new style requires "...emotional intelligence - knowing and managing your own emotions, motivating yourself and recognising and understanding other people's emotions."

The article emphasizes that "It's all about building effective and responsive interpersonal relationships."

Cognitive ability and business acumen is taken for granted at the senior level. It is emotional intelligence that makes you stand out. Or lack thereof, that makes you fall out, as Daniel Goleman said at the beginning.

In describing the problem with promotions into management, the article states, "But this new role will require a different set of skills from those the person possessed before securing the promotion. And that is the snag. The new management role calls for the ability to manage a team, communicate effectively and be able to make decisions, sometimes multiple ones, under pressure. This draws on the person's emotional intelligence rather than on the cognitive ability they've used up until this point."

How can you improve your emotional intelligence? You need guidance, practice, and feedback. You may get all these in our Group Coaching Tele-Workshops on Emotional Intelligence for Resilient Leaders and Professionals by visiting Eagle Alliance website.