According to Daniel Goleman, author of all kinda books on the subject of emotional intelligence, the common cold of leadership is most likely not what you think. Leaders lack of listening is common and cold. Did you catch that? Leaders mostly miss this cause they are fixated on the future and overwhelmed in the moment. Future fixation and today’s mess. Talk about a tough mixture. Therein lies said problem.
Leaders have not mastered the ability to talk about the tough topics. Sure, they can speak easily enough – it’s the tuning in to the contrarian, the productive rebel, the non-conformist, the upset utility player, and others whose opinions kinda grate on the leaders last nerve. The common cold may be an inability to listen but the problem runs much deeper. The problem is around why the leader would rather speak than listen. Are you catching my drift?
Leaders presence is never neutral. Leaders influence the vibe just by the way they walk in the room, much less what flows freely from their lips and what makes it through the wax buildup in their ears. Leaders either bring up the energy in their system with their mere presence, or, sadly, they bring it and us down. Emotions, remember, are contagious.
Emotions are contagious. The question remains. Are yours worth catching?
BUILT TO LEAD 