Written by: Olga Kiendler , Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Emotional and social skills have always been critical when considering success and prestige in professional settings but are now taking on a new level on priority and necessity. Research finds that emotional intelligence (EQ) skills are four times more important than IQ. During the pandemic and especially over the last 3 years, EQ has been identified as the most impactful leadership quality.
In uncertain times like these, psychological safety tops the list of requirements for employee engagement and productivity. Most managers feel confident about their traditional, technical skills but less about the more human aspects of leadership.
According to a global survey of Executives, 78 percent of people in the C-suite see the need to change personally and unlock the required qualities of empathy, curiosity, and humility coupled with the capacity for self-reflection. We are transitioning to a deeper level of leadership from within.
It usually takes years of experience and exposure to reach an adequate level of EQ. This mainly relates to the capacity for self-reflection, Self-regulation, social interaction, and empathy. These so-called “soft skills” get very little attention in the training portfolios and are hard to learn. Instead, they need to be installed.
The paradox is the higher up you go, the more the EQ usually erodes. Why?
Executives in C-Level positions are sometimes not self-aware, and there is a limited feedback mechanism as such. The pressure is high, so in many cases the team management becomes secondary. Add personal fear of failure and judgment to the above, self-critique, or a high ego, and there will be very little space left to meet the psychological needs of the team.
EQ is the key attribute that executives must now bring to the table if they are to be able to respond adequately to the changes within the company and in society at large as a consequence of the pandemic.
Closing the EQ Gap between “Being” and “Doing”
As CEO, there is a tension between “Being” which means the organization feels your presence, and “Doing” the job or executing the operational requirements. A leader's presence is now needed more than ever, and it requires high levels of EQ.
This is what you can do to fast track your EQ:
Identify how your past experiences are influencing your behavior today.
Identify emotions that drive you.
Identify emotions that block you.
Use meditative techniques to rapidly get rid of old and install new habits and beliefs.
Ask for honest feedback
Many unprocessed events trigger certain decisions and behaviors, try to identify them and process them rapidly with professional help
Invest in personalized, tailor-made programs
Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info!
Olga Kiendler, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Olga Kiendler is a Rapid Transformational Therapist and Executive Coach. She combines latest cutting-edge therapy and coaching techniques to fast track increase in Emotional Intelligence in individuals and teams by freeing them from unwanted emotional and behavioral patterns within a record time.
She also holds an Executive MBA from the London Business School and has previously worked for years in the corporate world in managerial positions across the globe.
In one of her recent interviews, Olga said: "The time has finally come for more holistic, empathic and empowering leadership. This starts from within. You can't just "Do" it, you have to "Be" it, and to "Be" you need to free yourself from unwanted, disturbing patterns in private and professional life."
