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Feature Articles incorporates selected articles, handouts and exercises on emotional intelligence, leadership development and related topics available either as PDF files or via a web-link. This is a recently developed resource that we will be updating with selected items on a regular basis. We would be pleased to advise you of these as the list increases. Please click link to left to register for updates.

We would also be pleased to hear from you if you are an author on leadership, teamwork, emotional intelligence (or any related topics) who would be willing to include your material in this section, or if you have any recommendations for items to include. If you are not submitting your own copyrighted work, please ensure that consent has been given by the author/s or owners of copyright for us to include these.

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FEATURE ARTICLES ITEMS:

The EQ checklist

EMOTIONAL SAGACITY

Emotional sagacity can be summed up in three words: confidence, clarity and courage - confidence in having better self knowledge and understanding in ability to learn and change; clarity in having principles and values to guide behaviour; and courage in ' doing the right thing' . Discerning between the positive and negative influences on emotional well-being, making reflective and balanced judgements on how to deal with these, and developing and implementing appropriate action plans are the steps involved.  

Source: Extract from ' Understanding Emotional Intelligence in 90 Minutes'

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An airman' s letter to his mother

MY EARTHLY MISSION IS FULFILLED

A moving letter written by Flying Officer Vivian Rosewarne, co-pilot of a Wellington Bomber from RAF Markham addressed to his mother. The letter was sent to the newspaper by his station commander, Group Captain Claude Keith, who found it amongst the missing airman' s personal possessions, to be sent to his mother if he was killed. The letter was published anonymously in The Times on 18th June 1940. Flying Officer Rosewarne' s death notice was subsequently published in The Times on 23rd December, 1940.

Taoist story of ancient China

IMPROVING YOURSELF

A thought provoking extract from Warren Bennis & Burt Nannus: 'Leaders - Strategies for Taking Charge'

Introduction to Team Transitions

TEAM TRANSITIONS

An emotionally intelligent approach to achieving and sustaining team excellence, centred on achieving intent through prioritising investment in building valued and trusted relationships.

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Military examples of exceptional team and leadership performance

EXCEPTIONAL TEAM PERFORMANCE

This paper explores two significant examples of exceptional team performance and leadership in a military context. One relates to Horatio Lord Nelson and his ‘Band of Brothers’, and one to ‘Blood and Guts'Patton and 'Opie'Weyland. Source: Reproduced with permission of the author, Dr Joel Hayward

Emotional Engagement - checklist, characteristics and process

EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Making emotional connections with others and building trusted and valued relationships is achieved through demonstrating emotionally intelligent behaviour based on a foundation of key personal characteristics. If you are striving to achieve trusted and valued relationships, the question you need to ask yourself is 'How do I make a positive emotional connection with this individual/group in my communication with them either directly or indirectly?'

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Teamwork and Ego - a fable

TEAMWORK AND EGO

The sin (and danger) of excessive pride (or an excessive ego) is admirably demonstrated in this simple fable.

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The Myths of Motivation

MOTIVATION

What is motivation? What inspires us to become motivated? This article by Professor Michael J. Apter explores the truth and fiction behind this subject.

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Improving organisational performance - Reversal Theory and Work

ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE

This article by Steve Carter provides an insight into managing climate for improving individual and organisational performance. This innovative approach to Reversal Theory may hold the key to managing performance climate in the future.

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Organisational and personal assessment

ASSESSMENT

For information on Jasper International, specialists in organisational and personal assessment:

'Effective team performance' - attributes for effective teamwork

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS

Effective team performance does not just happen by chance - it requires commitment to establishing relationships and working practices in which independence is equal, dependence is mutual and accountability is reciprocal.

Source: EQ4U Ltd.  Author: Jan Childs

'A new agenda for Leaders in the 21st Century'

A NEW AGENDA

Sustainability in the broadest sense - environmental, social and economic - is the most urgent issue confronting leaders of organizations and indeed people everywhere. Man-made climate change is the greatest challenge. The second greatest threat is the crisis caused by global social injustice, disease and violence. The author takes a radical look at the underlying system and offers an agenda - including world trading, money and taxation systems; democratising global institutions; a charter for global corporations; new legal duties for directors.

Source: Reproduced with permission of the author, Bruce Nixon

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'EQ Leadership - characteristics and behaviours checklist'

EQ LEADERSHIP

A checklist summarising the characteristics and behaviours of an emotionally intelligent leadership approach - as outlined in the MINDCHANGE EQ4U process.

Source: 'MINDCHANGE’ the power of emotionally intelligent leadership' .

Authors: Jan Childs and David Pardey

'Opening Reflections' - from 'MINDCHANGE'

OPENING REFLECTIONS

MINDCHANGE challenges leadership practice that puts expediency and short term 'quick wins' before integrity, ethics and the development of valued and long term business and personal relationships. Its aim is to stimulate and inspire a leadership approach at all levels and in all organisations that puts emotional intelligence at the forefront of decision making and to express a passionate belief in the value of EQ and its application.

A number of extracts from MINDCHANGE are included in EQ REVIEW. We therefore felt it was appropriate to also include the 'Opening Reflections' outlining the approach and contents of the book.  

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' Creating a Cultural Revolution - The 21st Century Challenge for HRD'

CULTURAL REVOLUTION

At the beginning of the 21st century, we in the midst of a transformation that can only compare with the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. We call it globalisation. It affects every aspect of our lives - social, political, cultural, spiritual and ecological. It is transforming institutions of every kind including community, family and our individual lifestyles. We need to understand it and work with it.

Source: Reproduced with permission of the author, Bruce Nixon.

Article appeared in Training Journal, October 2004, in slightly modified form

'The hip-hop approach- tapping into bling'  

HIP-HOP

The Syracuse Hip-Hop Summit reported on by Joanna Walters in The Times (on the 8th April 2004) may seem an unlikely example to include as an example of emotional intelligence. However, the approach of Richard Simmons, a 46 year old music mogul provides a consummate example of EQ in practice.

Source: 'MINDCHANGE’ the power of emotionally intelligent leadership' .

Authors: Jan Childs and David Pardey

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Bringing leadership home - the value of reflection and observation in developing leadership

REFLECTION

This paper establishes the clear and significant link between reflection, emotional intelligence and leadership. In particular it stresses the importance of self-awareness and self-control in order to be more socially aware and manage relationships.

Source: Reproduced with permission of the author, Dan Archer.

One More Time: How do you motivate employees?

ONE MORE TIME

This was the article that challenged the prevailing notion that motivation was all about money and other rewards, and emphasised just how important it is for people to have their personal needs recognised and met if they are to be committed to their work. Overview and web-link to article are included. Source: Harvard Business Review. Author: Frederick Herzberg.

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’Getting the engaged tone'

ENGAGED TONE

This is very much a story of building triumph from adversity, of the importance of effective leadership, good management and, above all, of emotional intelligence in action. It' s also about engaging the workforce in achieving goals that seem both unrealistic and, at times, threatening, and still being able to win through. The story includes mapping against the EQ4U process model introduced in ' MINDCHANGE' .

Source: 'MINDCHANGE’ the power of emotionally intelligent leadership'. Authors: Jan Childs and David Pardey

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Six Thinking Hats - overview

SIX HATS

Use of Edward de Bono's concept of the ‘Six Thinking Hats' has been invaluable to us in our work with clients in developing leaders and teams. With our emphasis on EQ (emotional intelligence) and its development for effective leadership and teamwork, the most memorable quote of all for us in his book is: 'In the end, all decisions are really red hat'. We lay out the factors but the final decision is emotional' (Benefits of the Six Hats Method - p175).

The above links to a brief overview and includes a web-link with further details. For a clear understanding of the ‘Six Hats' concept and its application you need to read the book.

Source: ‘Six Thinking Hats' by Edward de Bono, published by Penguin, England (1985, revised 1999) ISBN 0-14-029666-2.

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' Putting the boot into corporate greed'

TIMBERLAND

Cameo based on the Timberland Corporation's approach to the links between business practice and corporate social responsibility as instigated by its founder Nathan Swartz in 1918 and continued by Jeff Swartz the current CEO. Web-links for further reference are included.

Source: ‘MINDCHANGE’ the power of emotionally intelligent leadership'. Authors: Jan Childs and David Pardey

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' Relationship Investments'

RELATIONSHIPS

A practical exercise to reflect on current state of relationships with others and identify action points to improve these. The exercise is based on Stephen Covey' s ' Emotional Bank Account' concept included in his book: ' The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' .

Source: Reproduced with permission of EQ4U Ltd with acknowledgement to Covey (1992) 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Simon & Schuster, London.

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