School leaders must be emotionally intelligent to lead schools successfully. We know that emotional intelligence drives success in the business world and in our personal lives with family and friends. Given that schools are undoubtedly among the most emotionally complex institutions of the face of the earth, it follows that school leaders must be emotionally intelligent to lead effectively.
Coaching school leaders without assessing Emotional Intelligence, the driving force behind success or lack thereof, leaves out essential information.
Briefly, Emotional Intelligence is a body of research and a rich avenue of self-exploration and development that has grown steadily in popularity since it was introduced in the 1980s. The EQ-i (Emotional Quotient Inventory), one of the most respected assessments in the field, is a powerful tool for improving emotional awareness and developing leadership skills. It measures five components of Emotional Intelligence: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Adaptability, Stress Management and General Mood.
One of the wonderful characteristics of Emotional Intelligence is its malleability. The Intrapersonal component, for example, is comprised of Self Regard, Emotional Self-Awareness, Assertiveness, Independence and Self-Actualization. We can change all of these. We can choose to be more assertive, less independent and so on.
However, before we can determine whether we are improving, we need to assess our current state of affairs to establish a baseline. That’s where the EQ-i comes into play. It provides a comprehensive and focused assessment of a leader’s emotional intelligence in the five component areas mentioned above.
Assessment is just the beginning. The real work in the coaching relationship is to determine which areas need improvement, to establish goals and figure out how to achieve those goals, and to actually make meaningful change that people recognize and appreciate.
Change is difficult. We are creatures of habit.
But change is not impossible and we can develop new habits. Being creatures of habit cuts both ways. Leaders can develop emotionally intelligent ways of being and those behaviors can become habits. But, rarely do we change our habits without help.
Effective executive coaching will help school leaders improve their emotional intelligence and become stronger leaders. Students will learn more. Teachers will teach better.
The business of the schoolhouse is learning. When school leaders model and engage in learning, their teachers and students will be more likely to do the same. Given the tremendous advantages of being emotionally intelligent, which are far greater than the advantages of being cognitively intelligent, every leader, teacher and student should be champing at the bit to develop their emotional intelligence.