'Emotional Intelligence' Gains Currency in Public, Private Sectors

Whether your aspirations are to lead from the C-suite or the CIO’s office, the quality known as “emotional intelligence,” short-handed as “EQ,” is becoming a mandatory element of any serious IT professional’s resume. In fact, some say it should be the No. 1 prerequisite for a leadership job.

EQ comprises four key skills:

• Self-management
• Self-awareness
• Social awareness
• Relationship management

Four IT industry leaders — two from the private sector and two from state government — offered up their views during a breakout session at last week’s California Public Sector CIO Academy in Sacramento. Some key takeaways from the panelists:

• Brian Wong, chief information officer for the state Department of Social Services, said, “Empathy has helped me immensely in my career.” He noted that when he’s evaluating someone, he values EQ more highly than technical skills. “The paradigm starts to shift as your career progresses. EQ was not something I embraced early in my career.” He said one key in boosting one’s own EQ is to work on developing empathy.
• Peter Kelly, a former state department CIO who’s now with CGI, said that for him, knowing one’s audience is paramount. “Be mindful of your vocabulary — different words mean different things to different people,” he said. “Practice inclusive discussions, and if you’re a leader, use different styles of leadership.” While one approach may work with a team of extroverts, managers should mix up their approach so introverts also feel comfortable contributing.
• Kim Christfort, national director for Deloitte Greenhouse Corporate Innovation Lab and co-author of the book Business Chemistry, likened people to rabbits and turtles: Some learn quickly and want to move on, while others take a slower, more deliberative approach. The successful manager, she said, knows how to work with and influence both archetypes. Although Christfort has written a book centering on what might be called "soft skills," she noted, "We used data to determine the (personality) types. ... It's mathematically modeled."
• Tim Garza, agency information officer for the state Natural Resources Agency, has 33 CIOs who report to him, and he said they include a variety of personality types. “All jelly beans don’t have to be the same color,” said Garza, who moderated the panel discussion. “It’s better to have some balance.”