Emotional Intelligence, the learned or coached ability to understand and manage our emotions, understand the emotions of others and use what we are thinking and feeling to inspire, motivate and lead the best in ourselves and others is definitely one of the most critical competencies to have today.

A relationship economy and a relationship world demand high EQ, but is high EQ enough to drive the interpersonal, personal and  managerial leadership we need?  What about enhancing our ability to think faster, think smarter (Mind Power-Enhanced IQ)?  Recognizing our ability to tap into our spiritual quotient, our ability to see differently, see more and see farther by engaging the left side of our brain and using it to create a bridge between independence and interdependence, a spark of goodness that leads to greatness that has always been the fire of true leadership. (SQ)

Bishop Desmond Tutu said, “We must not allow ourselves to become like the system we oppose”  These words do not only speak to the people of South Africa, but of all people living today because while many of us will complain that true leadership is conspicuous in its absence, few of us think about our ability to really engage the leader within. 

In an interconnected world, the imperative to develop personal leadership and use it to build the vertical and horizontal communication, collaboration we need to build a better lives, greater peace and prosperity has never been greater. Will most of us choose to become like the system we oppose?  Will we forsake the leader within and just go with the flow waiting for the next wave of change to impact us, or will we step up to the plate and decide to be a change agent by building our Q strengths and engaging the leader within?  The power to make a difference, a positive difference in what ever way we choose, the power to be a change agent is the fundamental driver of leadership.  It is a drive that we can make a concious decision to engage.  Carpe diem.