The Secret Sauce to Connecting and Increasing Emotional Intelligence
A few years ago, a prominent senior leader shared something with me that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “I never hire anyone close to me without first taking them to lunch and observing how they treat the serving staff. How they treat the people who serve them tells me how they value others. I hire servant leaders, not self-serving leaders.”
That statement made me pause. It’s a simple test but speaks volumes about leadership and character. It also sparked an important leadership question for us all:
How do you treat the people who serve you?
Do you feel entitled or view yourself as above others?
Or do you see yourself as equal, showing genuine gratitude and graciousness?
My father used to say, “How you treat anyone is how you treat everyone.” That advice has shaped the way I lead, connect, and interact with others.
The ability to truly connect with others starts with understanding the value of people.
So what’s the secret sauce to connecting and increasing emotional intelligence?
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, wisely observed, “Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any company is not markets, or technology, or products. It is one thing above all others—your ability to connect and keep good people.”
And that, dear leaders, is the secret sauce. Leadership is about connection, and emotional intelligence is the key to making those connections meaningful.
Here’s to the power of your EI and meaningful connections!
–Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
To book Steve today, contact Michelle Joyce!
(For information on keynote presentations, team workshops, and one on one coaching.)
“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
