Leadership - Daniel Goleman

Did you know that it is emotional intelligence (EI) that distinguishes the most effective leaders from the least effective? Daniel Goleman, through the new discoveries in the field of neuroscience, was able to deepen his studies on EI and put the best reflections in his book "Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence".

According to the author, the intelligence quotient (IQ) is the best way to direct people to the most suitable careers and to conquer leadership. But once they are already in positions, IQ's ability as a predictor of success gradually declines.

In this summary, you will learn strategies for leader development, as well as the implications of a company's success for the emotional intelligence of its leaders.

Want to learn more? Then keep reading about these new findings and reap the best lessons!

The book “Leadership”

"Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence" is a compilation of articles by Daniel Goleman, published in the Harvard Business Review, regarding the latest research in the field of neuroscience.

The author addresses the use of emotional intelligence in the dynamics of relationships and its influence on the financial impact on companies.

The book, in turn, has 188 pages divided into 7 chapters full of teachings about intelligence, wisdom, and leadership aspects.

Who is Daniel Goleman?

Daniel Goleman is a writer, psychologist, and science journalist. He has a PhD from Harvard (where he was a professor) and holds a chair in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The author has received awards such as the Washburn Award for science journalism and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association for his major contribution to the history of psychology during his career.

Known as the "father" of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman is the author of bestsellers such as "Focus," "Emotional Intelligence," and "Working with Emotional Intelligence”.

Why read “Leadership”?

Daniel Goleman's "Leadership" is indispensable for coaches, managers, and leaders who seek to make assertive decisions, as well as to promote managerial practices, performance, and innovation of excellence in the business environment.

Therefore, reading "Leadership" is fundamental because it helps in the strategy of training new leaders and contains tips on improving interpersonal relationships and well-being as a leader.

What are the main points of "Leadership"?

• The higher the position in an organization, the greater the need for emotional intelligence to differentiate the most effective leaders;
• Most of the skills that distinguish the best leaders are not based on IQ (intelligence quotient), but rather, on EI (emotional intelligence);
• Having empathy and tuning into the moods of others affect the brain chemistry of the leader and the followers;
• Followers, also known as followers, mirror their leaders;
• The activation of the social neurons is given by the feeling of familiarity and well-being between the team and its leader;
• The social intelligence of an executive is given by empathy, attunement, organizational perception, influence, development of others, inspiration, and teamwork.

How to identify a good leader?

According to Daniel Goleman, the widespread belief of identifying individuals as "talented" for leadership is more art than science. Thus, the types of leaders vary, but all the most effective leaders have something in common: emotional intelligence (EI).

Already in the initial phase of a leadership, according to the book "Leadership" it is crucial that the individual has a high level of intelligence quotient (IQ). But, only those who perform their tasks or duties with emotional intelligence will be good leaders.

It is possible to identify that the emotional intelligence of a leader reflects in the success of the company. Also, from a "right approach", people can develop their own emotional intelligence and, consequently, play good roles as leaders.

What are the four components of emotional intelligence?

According to Daniel Goleman in his book "Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence", the four components of emotional intelligence are: self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills.

1st component: self-awareness

Daniel Goleman was inspired by the advice "know thyself" from the Oracle of Delphi to define the first component of emotional intelligence. For him, the good leader is the one who possesses self-awareness.

Self-awareness is the understanding that encompasses emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and impulses. People with self-awareness are honest with themselves and others.

Therefore, leadership by self-aware people increases trustworthiness for members of the same company or organization.

Every time a person knows the path, that is, understands where he is going and why, this person is exercising among the various types of leadership, conscious leadership.

2nd component: self-management

Self-management according to the book "Leadership" by Daniel Goleman is the component of emotional intelligence that uses self-control to free oneself from impulses of one's own emotions.

With self-control, a leader can create an environment of trust and fairness. Therefore, the leader should observe his mood and the way he treats his team members.

It's not interesting to be recognized by other people as "the bad-tempered one" that nobody wants around.

3rd component: empathy

Emotional intelligence is also based on the empathy component. Empathy is easily identified in EI, because every human being feels.

Thus, this component from a leader's perspective seeks to take into account the feelings of employees.

In this sense, the concept of empathy leadership associates this feeling with other factors. This helps in the process of making smart decisions, as well as keeping the team in harmony.

4th component: social ability

Social skill means a person's ability to relate to others in a positive and effective way. Therefore, dealing with emotions is also essential in this component of emotional intelligence.

However, Daniel Goleman explains that social skill is not as simple as it seems. Social skill, according to him, is friendliness with a purpose.

In this case, the purpose is to lead people in the direction that the person desires. For the book "Leadership", allied to social skill is the motivation that serves as an incentive for people to be more optimistic, even in the face of failure.

Therefore, according to the author, great leaders are those who possess behaviors that leverage the brain interconnection system.

Other books about Leadership

The book "Shakti Leadership" by Nilima Bhat and Raj Sisodia shows how to lead in a more conscious, creative, and inclusive way. In this sense, they teach how to access the infinite energy - Shakti -, the source of life, and lead with a creative, cooperative, and empathetic style.

John C. Maxwell gives a questionnaire in "The 5 Levels of Leadership" that determines the level of leadership the reader is at. In addition, the author indicates how the laws of leadership apply at each level.

Finally, Angela Miguel conveys in the book "Aprenda Liderança com La Casa de Papel" the teachings about leadership, planning, and self-control from the series that deals with a robbery at the Spanish Mint.

How can I become a good leader and apply the "Leadership" content?

• Develop your emotional intelligence with criteria-based approach to good leadership;
• Practice emotional intelligence through its components of self-awareness, self-management, empathy and social skills;
• Take into consideration empathy with the people around you: the reflection of your relationships is often more perceived than your intuitions;
• Respect people even when challenging their positions or giving performance feedback.

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