Hamilton Raye’s Post

How to Assess Your Leadership EQ Credit to Jessica Luna. Follow her for more visuals on leadership development. How do you create space for self-reflection in your daily routine? Original post below: ----- This quote hit me hard: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause & reflect.” — Mark Twain Sometimes we overcomplicate our lives & become complacent as a result. We are so driven by a thirst for knowledge & self-improvement that we: ❗️Over-stimulate ❗️Over-research ❗️Over-saturate ❗️Over-analyze The things that make the biggest impact are often the simplest. One of the simplest tools available to us are questions. If we give ourselves the time to pause & consider, a single question can change our lives. Lucky for you, I’ve got 16 chances for you to ponder your leadership EQ. If you hesitate or are unsure of the answer, explore further. Here’s some quick how-to’s for each: Self-Awareness: ↳ Recognize emotions: Press pause to notice your feelings. ↳ Understand impact: Take an action & work backwards to find the emotional root (if any). ↳ Identify strengths & opportunities: Write a list of what people ask you for help with / what makes you lose track of time. ↳ Align actions with values: Confirm your actions match your beliefs. Self-Management: ↳ Control emotions: Use deep breathing to stay calm in tense situations. ↳ Adaptability: Plan for alternatives when facing unexpected changes. ↳ Health routine: Incorporate exercise & meditation into your daily routine. ↳ Feedback application: Ask for feedback & plan how to use it constructively. Social Awareness: ↳ Assess others’ emotions: Observe body language & actively listen. ↳ Read the room: Quiet your logical mind & tune into what you feel. ↳ Reflect on conversations: Review past interactions for social cues. ↳ Anticipate questions: Use what you know about people to plan for their hesitancy. Relationship Management: ↳ Build connections: If you have trouble, root cause to get to the why. ↳ Maintain relationships: Learn more about boundaries & accountability. ↳ Build consensus: Practice verbalizing path options & finding compromise. ↳ Resolve confusion: Incorporate others’ terms into your speech. Improve your leadership EQ, improve your life. And your team’s too. All you have to do is carve out 5 minutes of white space & try one on. Maybe make it a challenge & ask yourself 1 question for the next 16 days. Paced reflection is reflection that ignites lasting change & continued alignment with your life purpose. 🙌🏼 ----- Grow your professional skills with daily visual wisdom. Follow Infographic Insights for the best posts on: 📊 Business 🌟 Leadership 💡 Self-improvement

16 Questions To Assess Your Leadership EQ Original post below: ----- This quote hit me hard: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause & reflect.” — Mark Twain Sometimes we overcomplicate our lives & become complacent as a result. We are so driven by a thirst for knowledge & self-improvement that we: ❗️Over-stimulate ❗️Over-research ❗️Over-saturate ❗️Over-analyze The things that make the biggest impact are often the simplest. One of the simplest tools available to us are questions. If we give ourselves the time to pause & consider, a single question can change our lives. Lucky for you, I’ve got 16 chances for you to ponder your leadership EQ. If you hesitate or are unsure of the answer, explore further. Here’s some quick how-to’s for each: Self-Awareness: ↳ Recognize emotions: Press pause to notice your feelings. ↳ Understand impact: Take an action & work backwards to find the emotional root (if any). ↳ Identify strengths & opportunities: Write a list of what people ask you for help with / what makes you lose track of time. ↳ Align actions with values: Confirm your actions match your beliefs. Self-Management: ↳ Control emotions: Use deep breathing to stay calm in tense situations. ↳ Adaptability: Plan for alternatives when facing unexpected changes. ↳ Health routine: Incorporate exercise & meditation into your daily routine. ↳ Feedback application: Ask for feedback & plan how to use it constructively. Social Awareness: ↳ Assess others’ emotions: Observe body language & actively listen. ↳ Read the room: Quiet your logical mind & tune into what you feel. ↳ Reflect on conversations: Review past interactions for social cues. ↳ Anticipate questions: Use what you know about people to plan for their hesitancy. Relationship Management: ↳ Build connections: If you have trouble, root cause to get to the why. ↳ Maintain relationships: Learn more about boundaries & accountability. ↳ Build consensus: Practice verbalizing path options & finding compromise. ↳ Resolve confusion: Incorporate others’ terms into your speech. Improve your leadership EQ, improve your life. And your team’s too. All you have to do is carve out 5 minutes of white space & try one on. Maybe make it a challenge & ask yourself 1 question for the next 16 days. Paced reflection is reflection that ignites lasting change & continued alignment with your life purpose. 🙌🏼 ----- Credit to Jessica Luna, follow her for more practical content. Follow Daily Infographics for the best business visuals daily.

Perspective: possessing high emotional intelligence, beginning with self awareness, has a powerful impact on leadership and management (reminder, Management and Leadership are two VERY different skills). How a leader/manager views themself versus how/what others actually see or perceive resides at the center of those interpersonal relationships, trust, and team dynamics. An extremely powerful tool/concept/framework to understand self awareness to elevate emotional intelligence, and a root to enhance other tools like Power Bases, the DISC Personality Profiling Model, Situational Leadership, Circles of Control, Influence, and Concern is the Johari Window Model. In this next series I will cover the Johari Window model - what they (the windows) are, how they work, comprehension of how expansion and contraction of each window allows "inner reflection" to understand deeper self awareness (it can be very challenging and it is a natural human action to really look "inward"), and how leadership is impacted (positive and negative). I want to begin with defining the four quadrants within the Framework. Further posts will explore each window (quadrant) in deeper detail; what contribilutes to the size of each window, and how this can impact perception, and elevate emotional intelligence. The windows (quadrants) are structured around what a person does or does not know about him/her "self", and what others know or do not know about you. The larger one window is, the smaller others can/will be, impacting those other windows, shaping the overall dynamic or "perception". The Windows: Open Window (also called the Public Window): This window is what both you and others know about you - either openly allowing people to know (sharing or display) or, what you already know and is obvious to others through mannerisms, behavior, or actions. Key is both the individual and others know. Hidden Window (also called the Private Window): Things you know about yourself, but others do not know, because you consciously or subconsciously (by mannerisms and/or actions/behaviors) keep things in this window private. Blind Window (also called the Blind Spot): This window is very complex. What resides in this window is how you view or see yourself versus what others actually see, perceive, or conclude about you, and you are completely unaware these views, perceptions, or conclusions by others exist. Unknown Window: In this window, things unknown to both yourself and others are present. A good example using leadershipor management is both you and your personnel may not know how you will perform under pressure, and until that happens, it is "unknown". Once a situation surfaces, that dynamic (about how you are in that situation (pressure)) will then move into one of the other windows. Coming soon/next, will be exploration of the first quadrant or Window, the Public (Open) Window. dp

I have gained an accurate and deep understanding of personal and leadership development while studying intrapersonal skills in my EdD program; a massive thank you to Trevecca Nazarene University and @Dr Bledsoe and Dr. Henderson   Leadership is not just about technical expertise and experience; it also involves spiritual development, consistent involvement in physical health activities, cognitive development, and emotional intelligence. We are sure of successful leaders if all these are taken care of. As a leader, I can only be successful with self-awareness, introspection (self-reflection), self-regulation (emotional intelligence), and self-motivation. Delving into intrapersonal skills during my course exposed many capabilities I needed to know. Self-awareness is a skill that helped me recognize and understand my strengths: empathy, Harmony, connectedness, Belief, and inclusion. I'm now aware of both. I also appreciate my strengths and weaknesses, emotions, behaviors, value, and their impact on me and others.   Introspection or self-reflection, another intrapersonal skill, impacted me; I could reflect on my thoughts, experiences, and actions to understand their meaning and assess my feelings. I learned that I could use my Self-motivation, an intrinsic drive to press on even if circumstances depict adverse effects but be optimistic even in a dull situation. The course deepened my understanding of emotional intelligence, providing strategies for regulating my reactions to strong emotions like frustration, excitement, anger, and embarrassment, calming down after something exciting and upsetting, and focusing on the task. Understanding, managing, and expressing my emotions while empathizing with others is imperative for effective leadership. Emotional intelligence allows leaders to build trust, manage conflicts, and inspire those around them.   I can build a cohesive work environment, enhance collaboration, and resolve conflicts with harmony as a strength. I gain inner peace, seeking balance and understanding in stressful or tense situations. Being an includer gives me the desire to value every team member's idea, which gives each one a sense of belonging. I engage with people from different backgrounds. If I stay true to my core values and exhibit integrity in my decisions, my team will likely trust and respect me as a leader. Belief enhances my ability to make choices aligned with my values. Connectedness builds a sense of unity and shared purpose; it is used to model that individual roles contribute to larger organizational goals.   I plan to continue to sharpen my intrapersonal skills and strengths by requesting feedback from colleagues I trust, mentors, family members, etc. This will enable me to deduce how I’m perceived by other people and then make some improvements.                              

🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐐: 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 🌟 As agreed in my previous post, we'll dive deeper with actionable tips to help you 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐐 and become a more Effective Leader: Building emotional intelligence (EQ) is an ongoing process, but the benefits for leadership are undeniable. Here are some practical steps you can take to 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐐 and become a more effective leader: 1. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐲: 🖋 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴: Techniques like meditation can help you identify and understand your emotions before they take control. 🖋 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬: Ask trusted colleagues for honest feedback on your emotional leadership style. 🖋 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨: Reflecting on your interactions can help you understand your triggers and reactions. 2. 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲: 🖋𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: Pay close attention to what others are saying, both verbally and nonverbally. 🖋𝘗𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴: Try to understand their perspectives and feelings. 🖋𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: Acknowledge their feelings without judgment. 3. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 🖋𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴: What situations or behaviors push your buttons? 🖋 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘴: Take deep breaths, count to ten, or step away from the situation to cool down. 🖋 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: We all make mistakes. Forgive yourself and move on. 4. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: 🖋𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴: Get to know your team members on a personal level. 🖋𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴: Recognize and appreciate individual and team achievements. 🖋𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵: Be there for your team members during challenging times. 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝑬𝑸 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆. Start by implementing these tips and watch your leadership skills transform! ✳ 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Building a strong team and achieving success requires more than just technical expertise. 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒔 𝑻𝒊𝒑: Watch inspiring leaders who demonstrate high EQ! Observe how they manage difficult situations and connect with their teams. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟! Throughout the week, consciously implement these tips and observe the impact on your interactions. Let's continue the conversation! In the comments below, share one actionable step you'll take to develop your EQ. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 for the next post in this series, where we'll explore the power of emotional intelligence for building high-performing teams! #leadership #emotionalintelligence #EQ #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #emotionalintelligence #EQ #softkills #teamwork

“The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence”. In my experience, emotional intelligence is essential not only for leadership in professional settings but also for interactions within our homes and families. A strong understanding of emotional intelligence can distinguish between being a good leader and a great one. If you are not actively considering and developing your own and your team's competencies in this area, you are limiting both your potential and theirs. I find that pausing to reflect on my thoughts before speaking has significantly enhanced my self-awareness and my relationships with others. The four core competencies of emotional intelligence are: 1. Self-awareness 2. Self-management 3. Social awareness 4. Relationship management The first step to enhancing your emotional intelligence, or "EQ," is to initiate discussions about it. Engage in these conversations with your team and your family. You won't be disappointed with the positive impact it can have.

💡 Ever wonder what are the top skills new leaders need to develop? I surveyed my LinkedIn network by asking “When you hire a new manager or supervisor, what is the one skill you want them to develop first?” Overwhelmingly (57% of respondents), emotional intelligence is at the top of the list. The term was made popular by Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence who identified the following skills as elements of emotional intelligence: ✔ Self-Awareness ✔ Self-Regulation ✔ Motivation ✔ Empathy ✔ Social Skills Like a muscle, we can develop skills.   With intention, we put ourselves in situations where we are able to practice the skill.  We observe and have others observe us.  We ask for feedback and reflect.  And next time, we tweak our approach with the goal of getting better at it.  Since I asked those currently in leadership positions this question and since they all have teams and want to develop emotional intelligence skills in their leaders, the question I set to answer is:  ❓ What can I do to develop these skills within my team? Here are my top 5 recommendations for how to develop emotional intelligence in your leaders: ✨ Deliberately create situations where people can develop these skills.  Let new leaders communicate key messages to the team, allowing them to practice influencing and inspiring others.  Then, be their partner as they reflect on what went well and what they could have done better.  Let them share their reflections, don’t jump to give them feedback! ✨ Start meetings by asking how people feel.  As they start sharing, ask where those sensations are in their body.  Yes, I know this is uncomfortable if you haven’t done it before.  Maybe it is an area of growth for you as well.    ✨ Embody presence. Self-regulation drives co-regulation.  If I can maintain a sense of calm in the present moment, I will create the space for my team to think clearly and stay grounded.  Breathing is an easy tool to do that.  Keep your exhales longer than your inhales to calm your body. ✨ Use your 1-on-1 meetings to help your leaders expand their self-awareness.  Asking questions such as “Who do you need to be?” to accomplish whatever goal they said they want to accomplish allows them to no longer think in terms of doing, but in terms of being.  ✨ Digging into “the why” someone is motivated to reach a goal is even more important than the goal itself.  You can help a new leader by asking “Why is this goal important to you?” or “What will be different for you when you reach it?”. 🔗 You can read the entire blog post and sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss another one:  https://lnkd.in/dNwAhyum 🖊 I’d like to hear what you’re doing to develop emotional intelligence in your team.  We all have so much to learn in this area. #leadership #publicservicecoach #coaching #emotionalintelligence #developmentandgrowth

This is where many leaders fall short: Emotional Intelligence. It’s easy to focus on managing your own emotions—after all, that’s what we’re often taught. But the real impact comes from how well you can recognize and influence the emotions of others—especially in a team setting. And this is where many leaders struggle. I’ve been in that exact spot—thinking I was completely in tune with my team, confident that I knew what everyone was feeling. But then, out of nowhere, I’d realize I missed something important— - Someone was struggling. - Feeling overwhelmed. - Feeling anxious. And I didn’t see it coming. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and it hit me hard. But that moment was a turning point—it made me realize that understanding emotions isn’t just part of leadership, it’s the whole book. That’s when I knew I had to lead differently. Here’s how you can, too: 1. Observe Beyond the Surface: Leadership isn’t just about what’s being said—it’s about what’s not being said. Who’s unusually quiet today? Who seems off? The real skill is in noticing those shifts and understanding what they mean. This is where you start to truly connect with your team. 2. Turn Empathy into Action: Recognizing emotions is one thing—doing something about it is another. If someone’s weighed down, be the support they need. If they’re on a high, channel that energy into something impactful. Your job is to guide, not just acknowledge. 3. Build a Culture of Understanding: In my experience, successful teams are built on clarity and empathy. It’s not about absorbing everyone’s stress; it’s about creating an environment where people feel seen and supported. When your team knows you’re tuned in, they’ll bring their best to the table. 4. Model the Behavior You Want to See: Emotional intelligence starts with you. Check in with your team regularly, ask the questions that matter, and don’t be afraid to show your own vulnerability. When you lead by example, your team will naturally follow. Leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about understanding the people doing them. When you lead with empathy, you don’t just improve performance—you transform the entire team. Be the leader who truly gets it. #BestTeamEver 📌 Want to build your best team ever? Join 27,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gnk3xVUB

Empathy, vulnerability and authenticity. All parts of Emotional Intelligence necessary for leading. #CISO who demonstrate these skills will be far better leaders than those who don't. If you need help developing those skills I can help.

🚀 Tips to level up your emotional intelligence to become a more effective leader! Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a critical skill for effective leadership, helping you navigate challenges, build strong relationships, and inspire your team. If you're looking to develop your EQ and become a better leader, here are 10 strategies to get started: 1️⃣ Enhance your self-awareness:  🧠 Practice self-reflection through journaling or mindfulness to understand your emotions and triggers.  👥 Seek feedback from peers and team members to uncover your blind spots.  📊 Take EQ assessments to identify areas for growth. 2️⃣ Improve your self-regulation:  😌 Work on managing your emotions, especially in high-pressure situations.  💡 Use techniques like deep breathing or pausing before reacting to stress.  🧘 Develop calmness and composure when facing challenges. 3️⃣ Build empathy:  👂 Actively listen and try to understand others’ perspectives.  💬 Pay attention to non-verbal cues and ask questions to better connect with others. 4️⃣ Enhance your social skills:  🗣️ Improve your communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal.  🤝 Develop conflict resolution abilities to navigate disagreements smoothly.  👏 Foster collaboration by recognizing and celebrating others’ contributions. 5️⃣ Cultivate motivation:  🎯 Set clear goals for yourself and your team.  💪 Stay optimistic and resilient in the face of setbacks.  🔥 Inspire others with your passion and commitment. 6️⃣ Practice active listening:  👁️ Give your full attention to others when they speak.  🙅♂️ Avoid interrupting and show engagement through non-verbal cues.  🔄 Paraphrase to confirm you’ve understood correctly. 7️⃣ Develop your emotional vocabulary:  📚 Practice labeling and expressing emotions more accurately.  💬 Help your team articulate their feelings more precisely. 8️⃣ Lead with empathy:  🛡️ Create a safe environment where team members feel heard and understood.  🤔 Consider the impact of your decisions on others and show genuine care for your team’s well-being. 9️⃣ Seek continuous learning:  📖 Read books, articles, and attend workshops on emotional intelligence and leadership.  👀 Learn from emotionally intelligent leaders you admire. 🔟 Apply EQ in daily interactions:  💼 Use your emotional intelligence skills in daily workplace scenarios.  📝 Reflect on how you handle emotional situations and identify areas for improvement.  🤝 Build stronger relationships with team members by consistently applying these strategies. 🌱 Developing emotional intelligence is an ongoing journey, but by prioritizing these practices, you can significantly enhance your leadership effectiveness.