Leadership Intelligence

Though there’s no doubt that climbing the career ladder takes a significant level of intelligence, there’s more to succeeding in a leadership role than having a high IQ. In fact, one of the most valuable qualities of a good leader is having high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the ability to empathise and read people's emotions.

The technical skills that helped secure your first promotion might not guarantee your next. If you aspire to be in a leadership role, there are many different elements that you need to consider. It’s what helps you successfully coach teams, manage stress, deliver feedback (positive or negative), and collaborate with others as well as, being able to achieve high performance.

As a leader of a business, it’s essential that you work well with people and are capable of establishing positive & professional relationships. So, the question I’d like to explore is…which one is more important?

IQ refers to a person's cognitive abilities such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. These skills are important for leaders as they're required to make complex decisions as well as, develop strategies for their organisation. High IQ is often associated with strong critical thinking skills and the ability to process complex information.

Here are a few reasons why a high IQ can be beneficial for leadership:

·???????Decision-making: High IQ individuals are often better at analysing data and making informed decisions, which is a critical aspect of leadership.

·???????Strategic planning: Leaders are required to have a vision for the future of their organisation and develop a strategy to achieve it. High IQ individuals may be better equipped to develop and execute complex strategies.

·???????Innovation: Leaders need to be creative and innovative in order to stay ahead of the competition. High IQ individuals are often more capable of generating new and innovative ideas.

On the other hand, high levels of EQ could be beneficial for leadership for the following reasons:

·???????Refers to a person's ability to understand and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others.

·???????Leaders with high levels of EQ are empathetic, self-aware, and able to communicate effectively with their team members. They are also able to motivate and inspire their team to work towards common goals.

·???????Leaders with high EQ are often described as having strong interpersonal skills and can create a positive work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.

In a recent study, Norwich University has put together some statistics which I thought might be useful to share, they looked at how Emotional Quotient and Intelligence Quotient affect leadership abilities.

·???????67% of the attributes that employers look for are emotional intelligence competencies.

·???????Managers with well-developed emotional intelligence skills are more likely to outperform revenue targets than those with underdeveloped emotional intelligence skills.

Ultimately, the most effective leaders are those who can balance both their IQ and EQ, using their intelligence to make strategic decisions and their emotional intelligence to build strong relationships with their team and create a positive work culture, therefore in my opinion both IQ and EQ are important qualities for effective leadership. Whilst high IQ may help with making critical decisions and solving complex problems, high EQ is equally important.

My advice to others who want to get into a leadership position would be:

·???????Having a strong work ethic, nothing comes easy.

·???????Having a vision of where you want your career to go.

·???????If you’ve also heard my podcast with my friend, colleague, and confidant Julia White on 'The Two Who Recruit' series on Spotify, I talk a lot about self-reflection and planning for the year ahead. This is very key.

·??????Get yourself a mentor, find someone who inspires you, and ASK...I’m lucky enough to have Philippa Dale-Thomas (Director of PTD) & Liz Wright (RSM Partner).