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The New Leadership Gospel

The era of the demagogue is dead. Today only leaders with a high emotional IQ can succeed — or so say today’s management experts.

Fortune Small Business
By Lori Ioannou

It looks like the high priests of self-help — management gurus like Warren Bennis, Kenneth Blanchard, Stephen R. Covey, and Daniel Goleman have become apostles of a New Testament in leadership philosophy. They’re preaching the importance of humility, integrity, empathy, mentoring and team-building in new books ranging from Blanchard’s Whale Done, (Simon & Schuster, $19.95) to Goleman’s Primal Leadership (Harvard Business School Press, $26.95).

Their message is clear: Emotional intelligence is a core competency every leader must have to be successful. Those with a high emotional IQ have a high level of adaptability, emotional self-control, intuition, optimism, and relationship-building skills. They use these abilities to connect with others and make quick decisions in today’s fast-paced world.

It’s not that these experts have arbitrarily adopted this new creed. After careful research they’ve found that traditional styles of leadership — such as the commander-in-chief (commonly known around water coolers as the control freak), and the pacesetter, (the perfectionist who has standards so high no one can reach them,) — just don’t work as well anymore. "They can create too much anxiety in the workplace and poison the climate," says Goleman. Used abusively, neither style helps motivate and inspire an organization over the long-term.

Instead, workers are looking for leaders with a clear vision that they can share and follow. Such managers must be able to guide their teams with positive reinforcement, says Blanchard. This is critical, he explains, because a leader’s attitudes and emotions are contagious. If he spreads negativity and dissonance, it infects the whole company, and the business could flounder.

Goleman’s research reveals that there is a direct correlation between a leader’s emotional style, and his or her business results. Over the last ten years, he surveyed around 4,000 executives and small business owners while researching Primal Leadership to discern the connection. He found that about 25% of business performance is tied to the emotional climate within a company. According to his findings, here are the most effective leadership profiles that boost innovation and productivity:

The visionary leader. This is a forward-thinker who sets a clear long-term goal for his company that he shares with his staff. It is the anthem that inspires the rank and file.

The coach. Think Joe Torre and you’ve got it right. By bolstering others’ abilities through feedback and guidance, one can develop a team of all stars.

The affiliative. Cultivating close interpersonal relationships among employees is a priority for this individual. This helps create bonds among the company’s workforce, promoting harmony and cooperation.

The democrat. Every organization needs a consensus builder who asks people’s opinions before making decisions. A good communicator and a great listener, this manager is able to quell conflict and foster employee loyalty.

The leadership research results are not surprising. "We live in a totally unpredictable world that’s become a goulash of complexity," explains Bennis. "Leaders today must be able to manage their emotions in the midst of drastic change. Even in the face of adversity, they must be able to see their way to a brighter future, communicate that vision and lead the way," he notes. Covey agrees. "They need a lot of inner strength. After all, they are the moral compass employees look to for guidance and direction."

Lori Ioannou is a senior editor at FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS magazine. Write to her at [email protected].

http://www.fortune.com/indext.jhtml?channel=print_article.jhtml&doc_id=208756

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