Transforming Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
FACILITATORS/INSTRUCTORS
Kathryn Graff, M.Ed., R. Psych., and Nancy McLeod, M.Ed, CHT.
Course Overview
This course consists of 3 modules and assists leaders in understanding emotional intelligence, and in developing and applying emotionally intelligent skills that are scientifically correlated with successful leadership. Becoming an effective leader within one’s own circle of influence, and recognizing the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership, is a focus of the training. Specific strategies to develop emotional intelligence are taught and practiced. Each participant leaves the training with an individual growth plan for developing their emotional intelligence, as well as a roadmap for accountability to their plan.
The course is delivered in person through a combination of lecture, video clips, and individual and group activities. The majority of the learning is experiential, with directed activities to promote learning and individual integration of the skills taught.
Background
Research irrefutably confirms that emotional intelligence plays a critical role in leadership.1 The emotional intelligence of leaders is highly correlated with their ability to foster positive work environments, creating satisfied, highly motivated employees and yielding significantly higher productivity, retention, and profitability. Emotional intelligence is key to this competitive advantage. EQ (Emotional Quotient) has twice the power of IQ (Intellectual Quotient) to predict performance. EQ is also a better predictor than employee skill, knowledge or expertise (Freedman, 2010, The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence).
Analysis shows that emotional intelligence plays an increasingly important role at the highest levels of organizations, where competencies in technical skills are of negligible importance. In other words, the higher the rank of a person considered to be a star performer, the more apparent it is that the reason is his or her capabilities in emotional intelligence. When star performers are compared with average ones in senior leadership positions, nearly 90% of the difference in their profiles is attributable to emotional intelligence factors rather than cognitive abilities (Goleman, 2004, Harvard Business Review).
Course Evaluation: Participants will be expected to develop individual accountability plans to be shared with the facilitators and select colleagues. This accountability plan will articulate the skills to be developed, the methods used to practice the developing skill, a timeline for implementation, and who will assist in holding the individual accountable for the skill development. These plans will be reviewed extensively during the third module, with ongoing plans for development of skills generated.
Course Objectives
As a result of this training, participants will:
- Understand what emotional intelligence is and why it is critical to transformational leadership
- Learn about the research supporting the concept of emotional intelligence and emotional intelligence assessment
- Appreciate the value of developing emotional intelligence
- Develop one’s EQ in relation to skills required for leadership through practice and implementation of research based strategies in 15 areas of emotional intelligence
- Generate ongoing plans for self-improvement
- Embrace the evolution of transformational leadership – from “dominance to partnership”, in recognition of leadership as service. (Shift from dictating and directing to motivating and supporting, while inspiring accountability and commitment)
- Explore key leadership and relationship issues with peers and colleagues
- Understand how relationships and communication support effective leadership
- Support team building and create sustainable plans for team improvement
Training
Three Learning Modules: (Each module is 7 hours, and consists of theory, practice, individual goal setting and opportunity for integration of skills learned.
Course Materials: This course focusses on facilitating individual and group processes. Skills are taught and then practiced through individual and group activities. Training materials required, therefore, are negligible. Costs for photocopying of materials developed by the facilitators, when required, will be charged in addition to the training cost, but will cost no more than $15.00 per participant.
Additional costs: Costs for travel and subsistence for the trainers, when required, will be charged additionally.
Course Modules