Soft skills or Hard Facts?

Global Executives need both. Cultural Intelligence without Emotional Intelligence is like work without commitment, project teams with ownership, responsibility without accountability. Human Resource Directors know the level of IQ that leaders need to analyze and meet the challenges in today's global markets. These are the hard 'S's or skills of success:

• Strategy how and what is needed to achieve corporate objectives
• Structure flexible enough to meet market demands, strong enough to thrive in challenging situations
• Systems procedures and processes for implementing corporate policies

But what are the soft 'S's or skills that boost some leaders to excellence while others flounder?

Cultural Intelligence (CQi): understanding the cultural biases, expectations and assumptions that influence an individual's behavior.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast"

Mark Fields, President of Ford The Americas, Wall Street Journal 23/01/2006.

Emotional Intelligence (EQi)*: developing the ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one's self, of others, and of groups

Anyone can be angry - that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - this is not easy.

ARISTOTLE, The Nicomachean Ethic

Social Intelligence (SQi)*: acquiring the charismatic skills of getting along with other people; knowing how to motivate, develop and grow others

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.

Johann von Goethe (1749-1832)

* adapted from Daniel Goleman's books: Emotional Intelligence (Bantam Books, 1995), Social Intelligence (Bantam Books,2006)

These are the keys to achieving Effective Global Leadership®.

Global leaders need to develop the competitive advantage in their corporations. They do this by mobilizing human energy and emotions into action and results. This involves connecting with people's desires, empowering them, leading them to whole-hearted commitment.

One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you. - Nitin Nohria