Leadership - or what it has to do with a cinnamon roll.

So, I recently dove into this online course on the Economics of AI—sounds fancy, right? Well, it's about how AI is shaking- and speeding up our business world and society. I really enjoy it, because it is a holistic, profound exploration into how AI is reshaping our world - for the good and potentially bad. We, yes we all including you reading this, are standing at a pivotal juncture in human history, grappling with scenarios that are often shaded in gray due to incomplete data - but lots of human imagination. This is a bit like trying to bake a cinnamon roll without knowing if you have got flour or sugar in the pantry or the receipe works out. Yet, amidst this uncertainty, one thing remains clear: human intelligence stands alongside machine intelligence

Human intelligence is not just one-dimensional; it’s like a multi-layered cinnamon roll —complex and definitely not something you can copy-paste easily. At present, our strength (and thus the secret ingredients) lies in our ability to think innovatively and apply past experiences—incorporating memories, lessons learned, and emotional insights. This synthesis of EQ (emotional intelligence) and IQ (cognitive intelligence) defines our unique advantage.

Even if am not a good baker at all, I am convinced that the future belongs to leaders who can blend these different ingredients to a perfect, unique cinnamon roll. Mixing the dough with charisma and insight. In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA - you know, volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous—basically every Monday morning) world, effective leadership is indispensable. Leadership, as defined by Northouse and explored by Goleman, is the art of guiding and inspiring others towards common goals through vision and strategic decision-making.

Breaking it down, there is EQ—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Basically, the essential ingredients that makes us not-robots (at least for the moment). It is hard work though and often we think of it as "too soft", but it is like trying to convince yourself to go for a run on a rainy day. Also, it is sometimes challenging, because it involves addressing our own shortcomings, recognizing and resolving patterns to become more authentic, resilient, and inspiring. Then there is IQ—strategic thinking, decision-making, problem-solving and maybe what we call "hard skills", eventhough I think this distinction is outdated. It is demanding, because you need to demanding to stay updated with the latest theoretical approaches and digital skills.

Why invest in both EQ and IQ and not only focus on one side to become a master in one specific area? Because, tadaa here is part of the magic of leadership, it is in the end the perfect blend of "generalism". And I point that out, since I say nowadays with pride that I am a generalist, after struggling some time with that definition and findinig the USP. It is about achieving a comprehensive leadership toolkit or - the receipe for the cinnamon roll - which you always should try to improve, roll by roll. And personally, I believe EQ might be the tougher secret ingredient to find, but it’s where the magic happens. It is about being real, resilient, and inspiring—qualities that are like gold in a world full of office politics and email typos.

Therefore, blending EQ and IQ is not just a theoretical ideal; it is a personal imperative. So, make leadership as personal as it can be. This integration not only enhances our leadership effectiveness but also ensures our relevance in an ever-changing professional landscape - where cinnamon rolls need to adapt to tastes, trends and ressources. And yes, please also try out different flavors - what about strawberry cinnoman rolls? So, by harmonizing emotional intelligence with cognitive prowess, we empower ourselves to navigate strategic thinking, inspire teams, and foster innovative problem-solving—essential capabilities in today’s dynamic organizational milieu. Or - to come back to our cinnamon roll - to organise the bakery.

And how do we do this? I mean we cannot eat cinnamon rolls non stop to find the perfect mix.

• Develop a Personal Growth Plan: Schedule regular self-reflection sessions to enhance self-awareness and identify areas for improvement in EQ. Book a coaching, therapy or retreat session - map out your areas where you wish to work on and do it. One cinammon roll after the other.
• Implement Data-Driven Decision-Making Practices: Establish a system to collect and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to inform strategic decisions and monitor progress - for your personal leadership performance. Make it like a "project" where you held review- and preview sessions.
• Foster a Culture of Psychological Safety: And here comes one of my favourite - all the above are not worth it, if you cannot build a enviroment for people and project to grow. Encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback sessions within teams to cultivate empathy and strengthen social skills. Work on your inclusion and equity patterns.

Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change