EQ v. IQ...

Thanks to Daniel Goleman, there are few people I know who haven't heard of the phrase "emotional intelligence."  Goleman is the person who finally gave us permission to admit that intellectual smarts alone won't get you up the mountain. 

As a psychologist and author, Goleman revolutionized our understanding of human potential with his groundbreaking work. His ideas didn't just make waves – they created a tsunami in how we think about success and leadership.  They also have made a huge impact for me on how I regard the influence piece of leadership training and communication skills.

Popular wisdom used to be that having a high IQ was the golden ticket to success.  We owe thanks to Goleman who flipped that script. His book Emotional Intelligence became such a game-changer that Time Magazine ranked it among the 25 most influential business books ever written. The Wall Street Journal wasn't far behind, naming him one of the top 10 most influential business thinkers.

But Goleman's impact goes way beyond the business world. His work has transformed how we raise our kids, handle our relationships, and lead our teams.  The Harvard Business Review was so impressed with his ideas about leadership that they marked his article "What Makes a Leader" as required reading – basically giving it their version of a lifetime achievement award.

"What Makes A Leader" should be a business and persuasion bible for anyone who wants to ascend in their careers -- whether they are lawyers or professionals, entrepreneurs or sales people.  Pretty much anyone will benefit from the wisdom in this paper -- especially if they are interested in improving their workplace relationships and and professional success.  Of course, these principals will also help you optimize your influence and persuasiveness.  

Practically every "business" book I consume these days that is geared towards fine tuning your performance, cites to Goleman in the endnotes.  So do I.

The best part?  His ideas aren't just gathering dust in academic journals. They're being put to work in classrooms, boardrooms, and living rooms across the globe, helping people build stronger connections and achieve their full potential.  

Understanding the components of emotional intelligence is essential to the work I do as a lawyer.  It explains the outstanding results I'm able to achieve in difficult situations for my clients -- whether through litigation or negotiation.  The concepts are fundamental.  The skills can be learned.   I highly recommend reading "What Makes A Leader" if you are serious about achieving even higher levels of success.