Leaders are not necessarily the most intelligent, bravest, most skillful or most knowledgeable people. Although there are a few leaders whose authority is derived from hereditary lineage, most leaders are acclaimed by their followers. Even those who hold hereditary political authority, such as monarchs, still have the need for the acclaim or acknowledgement of their subjects.
Other types of leaders have direct mandate from their constituents such as in the case of democratic nations. Leaders could be the head of state or just a president of a school organization. They could be military or civilian leaders, formal or informal leaders.
Regardless of the organizational structure, type of organization or the size of constituency, leadership is mainly about influencing other people to cooperate and work for a common set of goals. Good leaders are followed not only because of the formal authority they possess but also because their subordinates trust them.
Good leaders also have great ability to inspire and motivate people in positive ways. Hence, it can be argued that emotional clout plays a big role in leadership. Great leaders gain the loyalty and love of their followers, sometimes almost at a fanatical degree. Obviously, not all people have the capability to be great but people who have high EQ or emotional intelligence generally have better chance of becoming successful not only in leadership but in life in general.
The correlation between EQ and leadership is obvious. People who have high EQ tend to have greater understanding and sympathy on what other people feel. As a result, they are better well-adjusted, gregarious and very likeable. People who have well-balanced emotional intelligence are likely to be trusted, not only by their peers but also by their superiors. Their technical skills might not be too advanced but their excellent people skill can easily help them climb the organizational ladder.
On the other hand, the role of emotional quotient or emotional intelligence in leadership is not mainly about popularity. It is more about the ability to sense the emotional needs of subordinates such as the need for praise or need for affirmation of good work. It is also about recognizing the varying moods and sometimes conflicting personalities of the members of a team. It is the capacity to find a common ground and channel the individual emotions to something positive. People must feel they are valued and they are part of a team. They must have the enthusiasm to pursue the collective organizational goal. After all, the capacity to motivate is the primary function of leadership.
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You can learn more about the topic discussed in the article by visiting the URLs provided below.
http://www.icml.com.au/
http://www.icml.com.au/communication-and-effectiveness-courses/emotional-intelligence-for-managers/
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