Creating Mindful Leaders

Chapter 13Building Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Skills for Yourself

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

We've covered the crash course in stress, disruption, and the pressures on ongoing change management. Now, we're moving into my favorite part of the CML Workshop, emotional intelligence (EQ). The ongoing impact of stress on individuals and company cultures is why Fast Company calls EQ the fastest‐growing, must‐have skill for leaders.¹ This is also why the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report lists EQ as one of the top 10 job skills for 2020.²

EQ Is the New IQ, Only Better. Every leader, organization, and family works in a constant state of change. When it comes to helping individuals and company culture, mindfulness and EQ training help create a tectonic shift in the norms of how you do business.

At Whil, we talk about this shift as moving from the ordinary to the extraordinary. According to the research I've shared so far, the ordinary is the state of affairs that most individuals live in and that most companies tolerate. It's the negativity, gossip, politics, and lack of clarity and trust that drags leaders, teams, and company cultures down.

The OrdinaryStressed, anxious, and angryDisconnectedOverwhelmedReactive (EAPs)Sleepless and tiredDistracted and injured

The ExtraordinaryCalm, focused, and kindCollaborative and creative ...