For All Educators -> Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence

Because all educators are models for their students, colleagues and parents, this is a must read.

Daniel Goleman's book is an easy and clarifying — yet not necessarily obvious to many leaders — read on leadership and the power of emotional intelligence. Here are several of many excerpts that I use in my talks on leadership:

"Moods, the Yale study found, influence how effectively people work; upbeat moods boost cooperation, fairness, and business performance."

"As the head of research at a global executive search firm put it, 'CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.' ”

"The best bosses are people who are trustworthy, empathic and connected, who make us feel calm, appreciated, and inspired. The worst – distant, difficult, and arrogant – make us feel uneasy at best and resentful at worst."

"In this sense, leadership boils down to a series of social exchanges in which the leader can drive the other person’s emotions into a better or worse state. In high-quality exchanges, the subordinate feels the leader’s attention and empathy, support, and positivity. In low-quality interactions, he feels isolated and threatened."