Today' leadership challenges require more Emotional Intelligence.
WHY NOW: CONVERGING CHAOS

We are in the middle of a leadership “double whammy.”

1. We are in the midst of what is being called the “great recession.” The country lost 8.4 million jobs from 2007-2009, four times the net losses in the recession of the 1980s and 1.2 million more than previously estimated. The LA Times reports this  “severe destruction of jobs since December 2007, when the recession began, means that it will take years for millions of distressed families—and the economy as a whole—to climb back from what is being called the Great recession.” 

2. We are approaching the largest turnover of human capital in our history, as 40% of the American workforce will be eligible to retire in 2010. There is a projected shortfall of 10 million workers that leaders will have to contend with in the next few years. 

 The questions leaders have to face today are abundant:

• Will I have a job?
• Will my people have jobs?
• How do I motivate the ones who are here?
• How do I keep my best people from leaving and finding more secure work?
• How do I train the ones who are here for the next challenge and to be our new stars?
• How do we deal with more work and fewer people?
• How do we all manage our stress and enjoy work more?
• How do we do our best work with all that is going on?
• How do I hire the best people who can be our next stars?
• How do I manage myself to keep all this in perspective and perform at my best?

David Rock has said the brain knows only two states: Is this situation a threat to me (with the inherent fear)? Or is this situation a reward (with possible release of pleasurable brain chemicals, such as dopamine)? As you read the questions above, which state does your brain go into? 

This site www.truenorthleadership.com has resources and assessments to establish where you are on EI and tools for improving your EI. The good news is you can improve your EI with some focus and practice.