President's Message - February 2011
by Carrie Sincak, ICHP President
February 16, 2011
President's Message - February 2011
What does it mean to be a smart leader?
At one point in our lives, I am sure we have all experienced or witnessed a great leader. What characteristics did those leaders possess that stood out to you? Was it their knowledge, vision, attitude or communication skills? A combination of these?
Great leaders are often known as intelligent and skillful in their profession. They not only motivate others but also lead by example. However, is there more to being a leader than having a high IQ? We have experienced leaders who are extremely knowledgeable but may lack interpersonal or managerial skills. There must be more to leadership that extends beyond technical skill. Is there a different way of being smart?
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a theory of incorporating various behavioral and character elements to support organizational management and leadership performance. It is a way to view and assess one’s behaviors, attitudes and potential. In his book “Emotional Intelligence”, Dr. Daniel Goleman describes the main aspects of EI and identifies four major domains. The two main aspects of EI are to understand yourself, your goals, behaviors and responses and then be able to understand others and their feelings. The four domains include: 1) knowing your emotions; being aware of your emotions and its effect on others, 2) managing your emotions; controlling responses and hold off on making judgments, 3) empathy; recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions, and 4) social skills; managing relationships and having empathy. Research in EI has demonstrated that regardless of various leadership styles, effectiveness is highly correlated with higher levels of EI.
While the idea of EI may seem as though it is only for those in leadership positions, there is no reason why this concept cannot translate to serving on committees, working with your colleagues or improving patient outcomes. Leadership may be in many different facets of your life without having a leadership title.
EI is a complex model, and the summary I have provided is only a very brief highlight. To learn more about emotional intelligence and how it may apply to effective leadership, please join us at the opening keynote address at the ICHP/MSHP Spring Meeting, “Tuning in to Your Emotional Intelligence.” The speaker is Carol Rudman, PhD. She is a management development consultant and trainer, and President of Rudman Associates, LLC. She will explain the components of EI, identify why it is critical for effective leadership in a health-system pharmacy environment, and provide development techniques to enhance your leadership skills.
The ICHP/MSHP Spring Meeting will be held in St. Charles, MO on April 14-16, 2011. ΓΆβ€"Β
References
1. Goleman D. Emotional intelligence: why it can matter more than IQ. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1995.
2. Rao PR. Emotional intelligence: the sine qua nonfor a clinical leadership toolbox. J Comm Disord. 2006;39(4):310-319.