Sample Report of Baron Eq-I: (Emotional Intelligence Leadership Assessment)
Sample Report of Baron Eq-I: (Emotional Intelligence Leadership Assessment)
Sample Report of Baron Eq-I: (Emotional Intelligence Leadership Assessment)
BARON EQ-i®
(EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT)
Introduction
Understanding Your Report
Welcome to a new way of examining your emotional intelligence (EI) skills! You will find this report has many
unique features linking EI and leadership development. These features provide you with a snapshot of how your EI
compares to that of other leaders and insight into your leadership strengths and potential areas for development.
This report examines your results on the EQ-i 2.0 through four key dimensions of leadership:
These leadership dimensions were identified from research conducted on 220 leaders who took the same assessment
you did (the EQ-i 2.0) and who also responded to a leadership assessment measuring performance across these
four areas of leadership. These leaders held positions of mid-level management through to C-suite leadership roles
and were from a variety of industries (e.g., healthcare, technology, financial services, and construction) across North
America. The majority of leaders were working in large organizations (over 400 employees).
As a group, the leaders had significantly higher EI than the general population. In fact, the average Total EI score for
leaders was 14 points higher than that of the general population.
While this leadership sample is a valuable comparison group, it also helped organize the EQ-i 2.0 subscales (page 4)
according to the four leadership dimensions to which they were most strongly connected. Particular subscales were
associated with stronger performance in these four leadership areas (page 6).
Leadership Bar
The gold bar positioned on the top of your graph
is the Leadership Bar. This bar represents the range
of scores of the top leaders (those whose EQ-i 2.0
scores were in the top 50% of the leader sample).
Using this bar you can compare your results on the Low Range Mid Range High Range
Total EI 123
Highest 3 Subscales
Compared to your other scores, these three subscales might be areas you could further leverage. The corresponding
subscale pages may provide insight.
Problem Solving (125)
70 90 100 110 130 As a leader you are rarely seen allowing your emotions to
cloud your objectivity. You make the required decisions for
your team and keep the workflow moving. Your result on this
subscale is not only above average but it also falls within the
leadership bar.
Emotional Expression (123)
You are likely very comfortable in expressing your emotions
and lead in a way that is authentic and inspirational. Free
emotional expression ensures you are seen as human with a
connection to your work and those you lead. Your result on
this subscale is not only above average but it also falls within
the leadership bar.
Assertiveness (123)
Your result suggests that you are a leader who shares your
thoughts and maintains a strong position when your beliefs are
challenged. Remain aware of being assertive as opposed to
aggressive. Your result on this subscale is not only above
average but it also falls within the leadership bar.
Low Range Mid Range High Range
Lowest 3 Subscales
Compared to your other scores, these three subscales might be areas you could develop. The corresponding subscale
pages will provide you with Strategies for Action.
Empathy (105)
Empathy is a skill that you regularly utilize in your leadership
70 90 100 110 130
approach to build a culture of caring within your team.
Developing empathy further will help you fully understand
another’s perspective. While your score is slightly above
average, your result on this subscale falls below the leadership
bar.
Optimism (108) You generally see opportunities as possibilities and inspire
your team towards stretch goals. Watch for a few instances
when you may be more negative than you’d like to be. While
your score is slightly above average, your result on this
subscale falls below the leadership bar.
Note: You have other subscales that have tied for the lowest three scores.
SELF-PERCEPTION
Self-Regard is respecting oneself while understanding and
accepting one’s strengths and weaknesses. Self-Regard is often
associated with feelings of inner strength and self-confidence.
Self-Actualization is the willingness to persistently try to
improve oneself and engage in the pursuit of personally relevant
and meaningful objectives that lead to a rich and enjoyable life.
Emotional Self-Awareness includes recognizing and
understanding one’s own emotions. This includes the ability to
differentiate between subtleties in one’s own emotions while
understanding the cause of these emotions and the impact they
have on one’s own thoughts and actions and those of others.
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influence situations in a Intelligence non-offensive, and
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DECISION MAKING AL & S
OCIAL FU NCT INTERPERSONAL
Problem Solving is the ability to find Interpersonal Relationships refers
solutions to problems in situations where to the skill of developing and maintaining
emotions are involved. Problem solving Copyright © 2011 Multi-Health Systems Inc. All rights reserved. mutually satisfying relationships that are
includes the ability to understand Based on the original BarOn EQ-i authored by Reuven Bar-On, copyrightcharacterized
1997. by trust and compassion.
how emotions impact decision making. Empathy is recognizing, understanding,
Reality Testing is the capacity to and appreciating how other people
remain objective by seeing things as feel. Empathy involves being able to
they really are. This capacity involves articulate your understanding of another’s
recognizing when emotions or personal perspective and behaving in a way that
bias can cause one to be less objective. respects others’ feelings.
Impulse Control is the ability to resist Social Responsibility is willingly
or delay an impulse, drive or temptation contributing to society, to one’s social
to act and involves avoiding rash groups, and generally to the welfare of
behaviors and decision making. others. Social Responsibility involves
acting responsibly, having social
consciousness, and showing concern
for the greater community.
Total EI 123
Self-Regard 113
Respecting oneself; Confidence
Self-Actualization 114
Pursuit of meaning; Self-improvement
Emotional Self-Awareness
Understanding own emotions 111
Assertiveness 123
Communicating feelings, beliefs; Non-offensive
Independence 119
Self-directed; Free from emotional dependency
Empathy 105
Understanding, appreciating how others feel
Social Responsibility
Social conciousness; Helpful 119
Impulse Control
Resist or delay impulse to act 120
Flexibility 122
Adapting emotions, thoughts and behaviors
Optimism 108
Positive attitude and outlook on life
Leadership Potential
The EQ-i 2.0 subscales are strongly related to leadership competencies that in turn may be associated with productivity,
decreased employee turnover, and increased efficiency. A leader who embodies the competencies below is more likely to
increase work satisfaction, create trust, and foster organizational commitment and loyalty.
This page provides you with a leadership lens through which to view your EQ-i 2.0 results. There are four general
competencies required of most leaders: authenticity, coaching, insight and innovation. The top six EQ-i 2.0 subscales (based
on theory and research) that are associated with each competency are displayed below. High scores on the associated
subscales help ensure optimal functioning in the competency area. Alternatively, if you score lower on a few subscales
for a particular leadership competency, you can quickly see that this might be an area of challenge for you in your current
leadership role. Focusing development efforts in these areas are likely to yield the greatest return in your growth as a leader.
Authenticity Coaching
An authentic leader serves as a role model A leader who coaches effectively is seen as a
for moral and fair behavior. A transparent mentor who supports employee growth. Employees
approach commands esteem and confidence are nurtured towards achieving their highest levels
from employees. of performance.
Insight Innovation
A leader provides insight by sharing a purpose and An innovative leader focuses on taking risks,
hopeful vision for colleagues to follow. Employees are spurring colleagues’ ingenuity and autonomous
compelled and inspired to exceed goals. thought. Knowledge is valued and challenges are
viewed as learning opportunities.
Leaders with self-regard respect themselves and accept both personal strengths and limitations while remaining satisfied and self-
secure. Ms. Sample, your result suggests that your self-regard is stronger than most people’s. You are likely to be seen as a self-
confident leader who understands both personal strengths and weaknesses. It is important to ground your self-assuredness by using
your reality testing skills and by continually seeking feedback. You may:
n Exercise your considerable influence on key, strategic decisions.
n Demonstrate courage to stick by your convictions even in the face of dissenting viewpoints.
n Use a leadership approach that leverages your strengths and delegates tasks in your weaker areas.
You scored well above average on Self-Regard and fall within the leadership bar.
driven to surpass organizational targets, create an atmosphere example, if you are impatient and anxious when
of excellence and demonstrate a strong sense of confidence in deadlines are not met in a timely fashion, you may
your leadership capabilities. The challenge is that you could lose want to refocus and practice relaxation techniques
touch with a realistic appraisal of your capabilities. It is important (e.g., deep breathing).
to draw on reality testing behaviors and feedback from your team n You are only limited by the power of your imagination.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares SelfRegard with SelfActualization, Problem Solving, and Reality Testing. The subscale that differs the most from
SelfRegard is Problem Solving. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your overall emotional
intelligence.
SelfRegard(113) Problem Solving(125)
Your SelfRegard is lower than your Problem Solving. These components can be balanced by evaluating your selfworth in terms of your
actual ability to find solutions to problems. This process can be facilitated by seeking additional information to validate decisions before
acting. When generating solutions to problems, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and develop solutions that cater to your
strengths whenever possible.
Self-actualization is strongly related to overall work success and performance. It can be summed up in three words: pursuit of
meaning. While this may sound philosophical, as a leader, it means finding purpose and enjoyment in your role and performing to
your fullest potential. Ms. Sample, your result suggests that you find deep meaning in your work, set challenging goals for yourself,
and expect the same level of engagement from others. In addition to the passion and drive you bring, your result may also mean that:
n You feel as though you are exactly where you need to be.
n You promote the growth and achievement of other employees.
n Organizational goals are surpassed and high levels of performance are achieved.
While you scored well above average on Self-Actualization, you could benefit from strengthening these skills and reaching the
leadership bar.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares SelfActualization with SelfRegard, Optimism, and Reality Testing. Achieving balance between these subscales
can enhance emotional functioning.
SelfActualization(114)
Your SelfActualization is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for
significant growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach
whether comparing SelfActualization with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social
functioning.
If you have a solid understanding of what brings about your emotions, it is much easier to regulate your behavior and control the
impact your emotions have on employees in the organization. Ms. Sample, your result indicates that more than most people, you are
conscious of your emotions and the impact they have on performance. You likely lead with composure and a full understanding of your
impact on others. It is likely that you:
n Can choose a course of action based on a “gut feeling” in time-constrained situations.
n Generate respect, admiration, and honesty from employees because you are viewed as highly self-aware.
n Generally take time to contemplate instead of acting rashly, thereby considering your emotional response and those of others.
You scored well above average on Emotional Self-Awareness and fall within the leadership bar.
able to utilize this emotional knowledge to effectively navigate employees about understanding emotions and the
through challenging or difficult situations. impact of their emotions on others.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Emotional SelfAwareness with Reality Testing, Emotional Expression, and Stress Tolerance. The subscale that
differs the most from Emotional SelfAwareness is Emotional Expression. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to
significantly impact your overall emotional intelligence.
Emotional SelfAwareness(111) Emotional Expression(123)
Your Emotional SelfAwareness is lower than your Emotional Expression. Try to explain why you are expressing a certain emotion. For
example, provide reasons for why you are worried about an upcoming business meeting—don’t just be worried. Aligning these
components helps you manage your own emotions more effectively, and helps others to more effectively deal with the underlying cause.
Think of Emotional Expression as the action part of the emotional experience. Leaders who effectively express their emotions find
words and physical expressions to convey their feelings in a way that is not hurtful to others. Ms. Sample, your result suggests that it is
natural for you to describe your emotions in a way that is genuine and consistent. You are likely an “open book”; your team always
knows how you feel about a particular event or decision. Consider the following, which may be characteristic of you:
n You are able to express most emotions through words, and have a large vocabulary of emotion words and/or facial
expressions.
n You find beneficial ways to express your emotions, both positive (e.g., appreciation) and negative (e.g., frustration).
n You can foster strong engagement in your team, expressing your passion on particular issues and capturing their hearts with
your emotion.
You scored well above average on Emotional Expression and fall within the leadership bar.
Expression indicates that you are likely to express your emotions, ask thoughtful questions.
thoughts and feelings to your team. This is particularly helpful for n Maintain appropriate silence; listen for content and
tend to make a good first impression as you have likely mastered Actively listening and giving signs that we truly seek to
both verbal and nonverbal cues. Be cautious of over-sharing understand provides an invaluable amount of validation to the
emotion so that you do not appear derailed by your emotions other party. When the other party feels heard and understood,
(e.g., you remain heated and angry over a bad decision when they are less likely to be defensive or dig in their heels. This
your team has moved on). way they are more likely to be open-minded and cooperative
when you present your differing point of view.
Organizational Implications. Your high level of Emotional
Make the Connection. Tie your emotions to the potential
Expression drives a culture of open communication at your
impact that will arise from communicating the source and
organization. Your team and others in the organization feel
reason of your emotions. Emotions backed by clear rationale
comfortable coming to you with their thoughts, ideas, and
have the best chance of engaging others in your cause. For
concerns. This atmosphere can help you to stay in touch with
example, rather than just being anxious, prepare something
your employees’ reality during difficult times. Ensure that you are
along the lines of the following: “I am really anxious about
consistently demonstrating active listening and mutual respect; a
meeting our timelines for this product. I’m anxious because
high level of emotional expression can be overwhelming and can
we have lost time due to errors we have found in the process.
result in your team being withdrawn.
If we don’t test the product thoroughly, I am concerned we will
lose thousands with a late product.”
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Emotional Expression with Interpersonal Relationships, Assertiveness, and Empathy. The subscale that differs the
most from Emotional Expression is Empathy. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your overall
emotional intelligence.
Emotional Expression(123) Empathy(105)
Your Emotional Expression is higher than your Empathy. Do you focus more on the expression of emotions, thoughts, and feelings than
on being empathic toward others? Balancing these facets requires careful listening to the ideas of others, as well as being attentive to
their feelings. When these facets are balanced, you can effectively gauge whether the intensity and timing of your expression is
appropriate for the situation.
Picture a line between the words passive and aggressive. At the middle point of this line lies assertiveness, a place where you work
with your team by finding the right language at the right time to express your feelings and thoughts. Ms. Sample, your results indicate
you operate at the assertiveness midpoint of this line almost all of the time, articulating your thoughts in a clear and confident way. The
following characteristics may apply to you:
n You are firm and direct when making decisions.
n You guide your team toward your goals by articulating your needs and protecting their resources.
n You view your rights and those of your team’s as sacred.
You scored well above average on Assertiveness and fall within the leadership bar.
Leadership Implications. Your results suggest that you likely pull from your next meeting.
on strong emotions and convictions to state your position. This is n Review the outcomes you identified and separate the
a crucial skill to have when leading a team; it helps in gaining core outcomes that are essential to progress.
your team’s buy-in and inspiring them towards innovative n Then, identify the information you need to hear from
solutions. Further, a high level of assertiveness helps to gain the others to concede on these points.
resources your team needs and proactively clear obstacles in the Knowing the core outcomes that are essential, and the
path of your team’s success. While such situations require you to idealistic outcomes on which you are willing to be flexible, will
be an assertive leader, others may require you to be more help you stay focused on the goal, and not become paralyzed
flexible in your thinking. Becoming too rigid in defending your in rigid debate.
position may result in unproductive, stubborn, or aggressive
behavior. Crossing the Aggression Line. As a leader with a high level
of Assertiveness, making decisions probably comes easily to
Organizational Implications. Your results suggest that you are you. This likely provides direction for your team to work
skilled at getting your point across in a clear and confident towards project goals. Be mindful of your behavior crossing
manner. This skill is likely to help you resolve conflict, leverage the line into aggression. Ensure you spend the time truly
organizational resources, openly voice your opinion, and listening to the input of others when making decisions.
contribute to the success of your organization. Leadership Maintaining a culture of open and respectful communication
competencies are especially visible when you are assertive in this way can help immensely in inspiring others to reach
because you likely create a strong platform from which to new heights.
showcase your talents, and those of your team. Watch that when
you defend your position, you do not miss important information
or feedback that may alter your perspective.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Assertiveness with Interpersonal Relationships, Emotional SelfAwareness, and Empathy. The subscale that
differs the most from Assertiveness is Empathy. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your
overall emotional intelligence.
Assertiveness(123) Empathy(105)
Your Assertiveness is higher than your Empathy. Where possible, focus on collaboration in meetings. You should strive to appropriately
assert your views, but show an equal willingness to listen to others and be willing to agree when possible.
Ms. Sample, being independent means you are capable of feeling, thinking, and working on your own, a critical skill that all great
leaders have in common. Your results show that this is a well-developed skill, as you are willing and capable of holding your own
ideas and making necessary decisions required for your team on your own. You are unlikely to be swayed by popular opinion, which
can help you maintain an established direction for your team. Consider the following interpretation of your results:
n You are comfortable providing direction and working on your own.
n You can work without emotional dependency on others, and don’t require their reassurance.
n You accept responsibility for your decisions, knowing that at times people will disagree with you.
You scored well above average on Independence and fall within the leadership bar.
Leadership Implications. Your level of Independence indicates in an effort to pursue my own agenda?
that you rarely depend on others to make important decisions. n Know it all: Do I think I know everything, and thus my
Because you are self-directed, you can analyze a situation, team’s advice is not needed?
formulate a response, and move into implementation mode n Detached: Am I hurting collaborative relationships and
without second-guessing your decisions. This skill is crucial for engagement by not including others?
a leader, especially when difficult decisions need to be made n Closed door: While I have an open-door policy, is my
and direction is limited. At the same time, be careful not to behavior distancing myself from my team?
neglect the emotions and opinions of your team, which could
possibly leave them feeling alienated, and eventually Listening to Feedback. To ensure that you do not hurt any
disengaged. key relationships throughout the organization, balance self-
directed thought with the ability to seek advice and feedback.
You do not have to be a fan of an idea to entertain the thought
Organizational Implications. You tend to voice your thoughts and
process of others and explore different perspectives. Doing
opinions, likely adding your own perspective to the discussion
so can help gain the support of others and perhaps even
table and influencing the direction of your organization. You are
generate new possibilities.
an active participant in generating ideas rather than a passive
n Examine a few of your past decisions. What did your
receiver. Keep a close eye on how often you go off in your own
decision-making process look like? Who did you
direction rather than building coalitions. Teams that strive for the
connect with to seek advice or a differing point of
same values and goals build strong organizations.
view? How well did you follow along the input that was
given to you?
n Next time when you are seeking advice from your
team, note down the different perspectives before
presenting a counter-thought. Then reflect on those
notes and think through the feedback and the
possible impact on your decision.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Independence with Problem Solving, Emotional SelfAwareness, and Interpersonal Relationships. Achieving
balance between these subscales can enhance emotional functioning.
Independence(119)
Your Independence is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for
significant growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach
whether comparing Independence with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social
functioning.
Leadership cannot exist without strong relationships. While you likely have solid technical skills, your ability to form strong
relationships in your team is also important, especially to help weather difficult times. Ms. Sample, you place an emphasis on building
strong relationships and, even more than most people, model what it means to be a team player. Your leadership style uses people
and relationships to get the job done, by gaining buy-in and commitment, building integrity, and attaining the resources your team
needs to succeed. You likely:
n Know your team’s hidden and visible strengths and weaknesses.
n Strive to understand each team member individually.
n Consistently reach out beyond your team to a build a network of support that can buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
You scored well above average on Interpersonal Relationships and fall within the leadership bar.
result indicates that you value maintaining confidences, team prefers? Not everyone likes a reward given in front of
harmony, and open communication in your relationships. These their peers or “Happy Birthday” sung at their desk.
features of authentic relationships help you engage the hearts n Leverage empathy skills to understand the types of
and minds of your team. You likely have built loyal relationships recognition that motivate and inspire each of your
where you know people at a very personal level. By maintaining a team members.
strong rapport, you can motivate and inspire others towards n Find opportunities where you can help your team
innovative and challenging goals. members unlock their individual potential; the most
successful leaders develop their employees.
Organizational Implications. You likely have a commitment to
Take the Extra Step. Building resilient and trusting
forming healthy interpersonal networks throughout the
relationships with all types of people, regardless of your
organization and are able to share the benefits of these
personal feelings toward them, is crucial to navigating the
connections with those you lead. The consistent and natural
political landscape of your workplace.
effort that you invest in relationship maintenance likely provides
n Identify an individual outside your team whose
you the opportunity to influence the organizational stage by
relationship with you is superficial at best.
leveraging the people you know to get the job done.
n What have you done to earn their trust and their
willingness to help you? List what you think this
person needs from you.
n Meet with this person to confirm your perspective.
Emphasize the importance of understanding mutual
needs and arrive at an action plan to support one
another on common goals.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Interpersonal Relationships with SelfActualization, Problem Solving, and Independence. The subscale that differs
the most from Interpersonal Relationships is Problem Solving. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly
impact your overall emotional intelligence.
Interpersonal Relationships(111) Problem Solving(125)
Your Interpersonal Relationships result is lower than your Problem Solving result. These factors work together effectively when decisions
are made and problems are solved while considering how the decisions will impact those around you. Take extra time when needed to
communicate with others from the beginning so that they are engaged in the solution process.
As a leader, the ability to manage relationships is your medium for transforming your team and taking the organization to new heights.
Empathy, the ability to recognize, understand, and appreciate the way others feel, is a crucial component in building these strong
interpersonal relationships. Ms. Sample, your result indicates that you tend to lead with empathy, grasping what another is feeling,
even if it is much different from what you feel. Your empathic nature makes you an approachable leader and your team feels safe
sharing thoughts and ideas. With a result such as yours, you may find:
n You are “tuned in” to how others are feeling.
n You care about the thoughts and feelings of your team as much as you do your own.
n Under times of stress or moments of defensiveness, you are likely to adopt a less empathic approach, possibly making
decisions without considering the needs of your team.
While you scored slightly above average on Empathy, you could benefit from strengthening these skills and reaching the leadership
bar.
Leadership Implications. For you, empathy is a daily active expectations each bring to the meeting.
process when resolving conflict, managing change, or making n Predicting how they will act during the meeting. What
tough decisions. Your ability to show empathy usually allows you issues do you need to be sensitive towards?
to come across as an authentic leader who can gain the trust n Generating a number of questions that you can use
and respect of your team. In order to be even more effective in during the meeting to further understand your team’s
inspiring and coaching your team, watch for instances where needs.
your empathic demeanor may crack (e.g., when you are feeling n Keeping a journal that records your correct predictions
stress, or anger) and cause an emotional disconnect between (hits) and incorrect predictions (misses) of the issues
you and your employees. and actions that would be brought forth. Reduce the
number of misses by understanding individual team
members on a deeper level.
Organizational Implications. Although you have a reasonable
level of empathy, working to increase it will benefit both you and
Watching a Pro. Find someone who is an empathic and yet
your organization. The need to feel heard and understood is in
efficient communicator.
the core nature of all human beings. Further increasing your level
n Observe their communication style in practice, taking
of empathy to provide this validation will help dampen defenses
note of how they balance their ability to remain
in conflict management and gain the commitment you need to
empathic and respectful with meeting organizational
achieve common goals.
demands.
n Examine your scores on Independence, Interpersonal
Relationships, and Assertiveness to see how you can
leverage other skills to develop Empathy.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Empathy with Emotional SelfAwareness, Reality Testing, and Emotional Expression. The subscale that differs the
most from Empathy is Emotional Expression. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your overall
emotional intelligence.
Empathy(105) Emotional Expression(123)
Your Empathy is lower than your Emotional Expression. Before expressing emotions, be sure to consider the impact that your emotions
can have on others. By displaying a greater balance of empathic behaviors, you will appear more supportive and less directive in your
interactions with others.
Social responsibility calls for leaders to act in a moral and responsible manner, promote the greater good, and be a strong voice in
their teams, organizations, and communities. Ms. Sample, your result suggests that you are usually seen as a highly socially
responsible leader, taking most, if not all, opportunities to help your team and the organization. Your concern for others, whether at
work or in the community, is demonstrated through the selfless contributions you make. Based on your result, you:
n Consistently demonstrate your social conscience and are compelled to coach those who you lead.
n Are seen as a “Good Samaritan” who helps others without expecting anything in return.
n Gain fulfillment from a variety of sources, including activities outside of work.
You scored well above average on Social Responsibility and fall within the leadership bar.
and ethical compass in your leadership approach and often activities and tasks did you spend your time on?
place your team’s goals ahead of your own agenda. You may n Which of those tasks were for the betterment of
also contribute/make a difference in society (e.g., charity yourself, your family, your work, those you lead, and
involvement/fundraising). Be mindful that being helpful to the others?
point where you do all the work is not truly helping or coaching; n If you are over involved in any area, adjust your
allow your direct reports to spread their wings and grow on their schedule for the next month and refocus your efforts.
own.
Inspiring Initiative. Inspiring others to be socially responsible
can create an overall feeling of meaning while contributing
Organizational Implications. You are likely involved in a variety of
towards the greater good.
social and leadership pursuits both inside and outside of the
n Leverage your passion for causes you care about by
workplace (e.g., charity involvement, fundraising). You
reaching out to your team and organization (e.g.,
consistently promote employee engagement, morale, mentoring,
setting up a community support group within the
and other development practices that help build talent in your
organization).
team and others in the organization. One note of caution is to be
n Brainstorm several activities that you, your team, or
wary that such involvement may involve taking on too many
the organization as a whole can engage in. Ensure
responsibilities, regardless of the cost to the quality of your work
these activities are in line with your organization’s
or personal well-being.
vision and are of benefit to the employees.
n Identify a plan of action to build social responsibility
within your organization; identify specific roles and a
time frame in which to complete the plan of action.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Social Responsibility with SelfActualization, Interpersonal Relationships, and Empathy. The subscale that differs
the most from Social Responsibility is Empathy. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your
overall emotional intelligence.
Social Responsibility(119) Empathy(105)
Your Social Responsibility is higher than your Empathy. These components work best together when you put yourself in the other
person’s shoes to understand what is truly needed from their perspective. It is best to listen to the needs and concerns of others before
choosing the best way to help them or work with them.
Solving problems is an everyday reality for leaders. However, leaders need more than just problem-solving skills, they need to work
with problems where emotions are involved and recognize how these emotions impact their decisiveness. Ms. Sample, this is an
area of emotional intelligence that you extensively use; you tackle problems head-on without being overwhelmed or distracted by your
emotions. Your approach is likely uninterrupted and invokes a sense of steadfastness and confidence from those you lead. Your
result indicates:
n You see emotional information as playing a pivotal role but are not sidetracked by it.
n You work through the many steps to solving a problem without being emotionally distracted.
n You are likely to delve into tough or touchy problems, understanding the emotions at play.
n Your emotions rarely inhibit your decisions, but be wary not to take it to the extreme and ignore your feelings entirely.
You scored well above average on Problem Solving and fall within the leadership bar.
focus and a rational demeanor as you generate solutions. Your of the situation and ask clarifying questions if needed.
leadership approach allows you to reframe problems and n A question to which you do not know the answer is a
approach situations in new ways, spurring the creativity of your sign that you need a greater understanding of the
team and allowing for process overhauls when required. problem before you begin to solve it.
However, be aware that you still want to appear emotionally
invested in the decisions you make—you just aren’t allowing your Set the Emotional Stage. As a leader, you need to manage
emotions to derail you from making a decision. the emotional landscape of your team. Others may not be as
decisive as you; don’t leave people behind as you forge
ahead solving problems.
Organizational Implications. Your method of viewing a problem
n If your team needs to be innovative and consider
from different perspectives, without being derailed by your
unconventional approaches, try to evoke positive
emotions, helps you generate a wider range of solutions than
emotions within the group (e.g., recall a successful
most leaders. You are likely sought out for your rational problem-
event, use humor, or hold a meeting outside of the
solving approach, particularly when emotions are running high.
office).
Tackling problems head-on enables you to set the tone for
n Alternatively, to ensure others can concentrate on the
responsiveness and efficiency throughout the organization.
details or analyze the associated costs of a problem,
try to generate a slightly less positive mood that can
help you with the analytical phase of problem solving.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Problem Solving with Flexibility, Reality Testing, and Emotional SelfAwareness. The subscale that differs the
most from Problem Solving is Emotional SelfAwareness. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact
your overall emotional intelligence.
Problem Solving(125) Emotional SelfAwareness(111)
Your Problem Solving is higher than your Emotional SelfAwareness. These components are balanced when proper consideration is
given to your emotions when implementing a course of action. Some solutions may seem effective but don’t feel right on an emotional
level. Understanding the roles different emotions play in the decision making process will be of benefit in the long run.
Reality Testing is a key contributor to how you make decisions as a leader, whether your approach is seen as grounded, objective and
in touch with the work environment, or disconnected and biased. Ms. Sample, your result on this subscale suggests that you have the
ability to remain objective, stay tuned in to what is happening around you and provide clear, realistic direction to your team. By keeping
your personal biases at bay, you likely make trusted and sensible decisions that organizational members can buy into. Your result
suggests:
n You are very unlikely to misinterpret critical information or allow emotions to color reality.
n Each person and situation is unique; you can tailor your approach accordingly.
n Your coaching and performance management discussions are likely unbiased and grounded in evidence.
You scored well above average on Reality Testing and fall within the leadership bar.
conclusions: something is right or it is wrong, there are no decisions or meetings where you usually allow
shades of grey. This sets you up to be a trusted and respected objective data (e.g., the vote was 10 to 4 in favor of
leader with clear ethics; people will seek you out for your realistic pulling the project) to take precedence over what your
appraisal of a situation. Coaching and performance emotions tell you (e.g., Karen sure looked hurt when
management conversations are likely to be securely grounded in her project was cut).
evidence, so be careful not to dismiss good intentions and n Leaders need to be particularly attuned to the
efforts when results aren’t meeting your expectations. emotional information present in their relationships;
ignoring it will likely alienate individuals and form rifts
that make it difficult to get work done.
Organizational Implications. Because you frequently see
situations as they really are (and not as you wish them to be),
Opening the Books. Keeping up-to-date data at your
people likely turn to you for the hard facts, and you may be a key
fingertips will ensure you have objective information ready to
resource within the organization to make tough decisions.
fuel strong decisions and goal-setting processes.
Leaders like yourself who can accurately size up external events
n Provide yourself and your team with critical business
and solve problems based on this assessment tend to be
unit or departmental data (e.g., profit and loss, sales,
capable of greater achievements. Watch that your objectivity
product development costs) to make intelligent
doesn’t get in the way of your creativity and willingness to set
decisions with your team.
stretch goals.
n Information is seen as a form of power and can
combat the tendency to color reality with our own
personal biases. Instill this power in your team.
Validate theories and assumptions, and avoid targets
that have no basis in hard data.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Reality Testing with Emotional SelfAwareness, SelfRegard, and Problem Solving. The subscale that differs the
most from Reality Testing is Problem Solving. Improving the interplay between these subscales is likely to significantly impact your overall
emotional intelligence.
Reality Testing(114) Problem Solving(125)
Your Reality Testing is lower than your Problem Solving. To bring these two components into line with one another, attempt to validate
the soundness of plans before implementing them. Gather as much objective information as possible to support your intended solution,
possible unintended outcomes of that solution and the probability of implementing contingency plans.
Impulse control is the ability to think before acting and to show restraint in the face of impulses and temptations to act. Ms. Sample,
your result is indicative of a leader who is highly stable, composed and methodical in your approach. You steer clear of rash
conclusions and impatient behavior, putting appropriate analysis into every move. Leaders with a result similar to yours are:
n Deliberate and apt to survey a situation before making a decision.
n Patient when communicating and mentoring their direct reports, and deal with obstacles in a composed manner.
n Calm and unperturbed under trying circumstances, allowing others to trust in their leadership ability during difficult times.
You scored well above average on Impulse Control and fall within the leadership bar.
you take the time to ensure that plans are in place before balance deliberate decision making with the progress
decisions are made. Under trying circumstances, you can still demanded of today’s leaders.
hold this patient composure and not fall victim to knee-jerk
responses to market conditions or competitive moves. People Admit Mistakes. Even with our best intentions, frustration or
may see your behavior as predictable and calculated, and impatience can sometimes get the best of us. Leaders who
although this is necessary in many workplaces, ensure that it show integrity by owning their behavior and admitting their
isn’t at the expense of listening to your instincts or participating in mistakes recover from workplace slip-ups with less wear and
spontaneous conversations. tear than leaders who pretend the event never happened.
n Particularly with your direct reports, openly admit to a
moment of frustration and offer an apology. Don’t
blame your behavior on anyone else or anything
outside of your control.
n Maintain a positive impression by talking about what
you will do differently next time and ask others for
feedback on your plan.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Impulse Control with Flexibility, Stress Tolerance, and Assertiveness. Achieving balance between these subscales
can enhance emotional functioning.
Impulse Control(120)
Your Impulse Control is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for
significant growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach
whether comparing Impulse Control with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social
functioning.
Flexibility requires that you be able to modify your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in response to change. Ms. Sample, your result
suggests a finely-tuned ability to adapt to shifting priorities in the organization. You are a catalyst who inspires fresh ideas, and you
learn from unexpected events. This willingness to adapt helps you become a champion of progress and use a variety of leadership
styles with your direct reports. Some indicators of your result are:
n You are viewed as quick to respond to unpredictable events.
n You are reactive, and not stuck to conventional and outdated methods.
n You are able to mold your leadership style and emotional responses to changing conditions and differing needs of those on
your team.
You scored well above average on Flexibility and fall within the leadership bar.
are receptive to improving business processes and changing your choices and ensure that your leadership style
your leadership style when necessary. Nevertheless, it is embodies these traits.
important to be mindful that change is made easier when you are n Be prepared to share the reason(s) why you veered
armed with sufficient information to make a credible decision. from a particular course of action, so that your
colleagues can understand your logic.
Organizational Implications. You are likely a role model for
Establish a Culture of Innovation. Funnel your drive for
responsiveness. Your flexibility likely helps to ensure new
innovation and creativity through the organization.
insights and fresh perspectives are fostered. Different opinions
n Reward and praise your employees for their new
are raised within your team and work relationships, and
ideas and creations. For instance, you can award a
challenges to traditional procedures become the norm. You help
plaque of recognition to the employee who presents
contribute to an organization that adopts “outside the box”
the most original and imaginative idea.
thinking and views change as a continual learning process. Be
n Hold your employees accountable for achieving key
mindful to rely on your instinct and reality testing when evaluating
metrics (e.g., sales targets) but allow them the
alternative courses of action.
flexibility to plan how they will achieve these goals and
encourage questioning of the status quo.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Flexibility with Problem Solving, Independence, and Impulse Control. Achieving balance between these subscales
can enhance emotional functioning.
Flexibility(122)
Your Flexibility is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for significant
growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach whether
comparing Flexibility with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social functioning.
Stress Tolerance is the ability to cope with and respond effectively to stress. Ms. Sample, your result indicates that you are armed with
an array of valuable coping strategies to mitigate the effects of challenges and difficulties that arise in the organization. You garner
respect for your ability to lead others through times of stress, by remaining calm and collected. You are focused on getting the job
done in the face of uncertainty and changing priorities. Some characteristics of your result are:
n You undertake challenges with enthusiasm in order to foster productivity.
n You operate at peak performance under situations of mounting pressure and approaching deadlines.
You scored well above average on Stress Tolerance and fall within the leadership bar.
Organizational Implications. Your proficiency at managing the and maintain an open-door policy. Encourage
sometimes chaotic demands of the workday without getting colleagues to speak to you about their concerns in a
anxious or worried propels the organization towards efficiency welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
even under the most challenging conditions. You motivate others
to cope with events that are uncontrollable, and your ability to find Maintain a Fine Balance. Ensure that you balance your
solutions catapults the organization forward. Change permeates desire to undertake simultaneous projects with a realistic
the work culture as decisions are swiftly made. Be mindful that appraisal of your ability.
your colleagues may not cope as well with pressure, and ensure n Draw on reality testing to ensure that you are
that proper safety nets are implemented (e.g., flexible work adequately prepared to tackle a demanding workload.
schedules, stress management workshops). For instance, do you have the required resources
(e.g., people, time, expertise) in order to effectively
manage competing priorities?
n Ask your team for feedback regarding workload and
involve them in creating solutions to ease the
pressure when necessary. Ask for help when you are
unable to tackle a project alone and delegate
responsibilities when you are unable to handle them.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Stress Tolerance with Problem Solving, Flexibility, and Interpersonal Relationships. Achieving balance between
these subscales can enhance emotional functioning.
Stress Tolerance(118)
Your Stress Tolerance is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for
significant growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach
whether comparing Stress Tolerance with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social
functioning.
Optimism, the ability to remain positive despite setbacks, is a crucial differentiator between successful leaders and others in the
workplace. It permeates almost every application of EI, from helping you persevere, to motivating and inspiring colleagues. Ms.
Sample, your result is indicative of a leader who is slightly more likely than most to view work and life in a positive light. Because the
score on this scale is not overly extreme, it indicates that you are not so overly optimistic that you are blind or naïve to the realities of
life. Some characteristics of your result are:
n You approach leadership with enthusiasm and gusto, although you could benefit from demonstrating this energy even more
often.
n You motivate colleagues to achieve success, helping them set stretch goals and reach for greater heights.
n You generally believe that setbacks are temporary and that you can overcome them.
While you scored slightly above average on Optimism, you could benefit from strengthening these skills and reaching the leadership
bar.
Leadership Implications. Your moderately optimistic stance the time to consider their perspective and their
permeates your leadership style and helps you view most contribution.
situations as malleable and controllable. By further developing n Temper your initial reaction with positive statements
your sense of optimism, when you encounter adversity, you will (e.g., “that sounds promising,” and “did you consider
be able to overcome the challenge, learn from the situation, and the alternative”) to help boost your positive mindset.
inspire others to do the same. While you are able to set an
inspiring mission and vision for the organization that produces Focus on Your Strengths. Capitalize upon your talents to
results and productivity, this ability can be enhanced. introduce positive emotions in your way of thinking.
n Every leader is endowed with strengths and
weaknesses. The key is to focus upon your strengths.
Organizational Implications. Given your generally optimistic
For instance, if you are adept at public speaking,
outlook, colleagues can emulate your disposition and use you as
volunteer to deliver presentations at the next meeting.
a role model when encountering tough situations. For the most
n When appropriate, delegate tasks in which you do not
part, the organization prospers under uncertainty, and these
excel to your colleagues who may be more
situations are viewed as transient and easily overcome.
specialized in a certain area of expertise. By focusing
Generally, your team perseveres at solving problems as they
on your strengths, you are better able to leverage your
arise; however, you could benefit from demonstrating even more
skills to their full extent, which will aid in fostering a
optimism to ensure colleagues are inspired to continue to
positive outlook.
actively tackle problems.
Balancing Your EI
This section compares Optimism with SelfRegard, Interpersonal Relationships, and Reality Testing. Achieving balance between these
subscales can enhance emotional functioning.
Optimism(108)
Your Optimism is well balanced with these three related subscales. To maintain this balance with these subscales, watch for significant
growth in one subscale over others and consider ways that you can develop the subscales in tandem. Discuss with your coach whether
comparing Optimism with other subscales may lead to further EI development and enhanced emotional and social functioning.
Happiness includes feelings of satisfaction, contentment Your Happiness result is shown on this page, linked to your results
and the ability to enjoy the many aspects of one’s life. It is on the four subscales most often associated with Happiness.
different than the other EI abilities in that Happiness both
contributes to, and is a product of, emotional intelligence. Because Happiness is so interconnected with all EI abilities,
As such, your result in Happiness is like an indicator of your you may find further development opportunities if you explore
emotional health and well-being. how the remaining subscales contribute to your level of
Happiness, and vice versa.
Happiness
Ms. Sample, your result in Happiness suggests that more often than not you feel satisfied with your life, and generally enjoy the
company of others and the work you do. You may:
n Have fun at both work and play while participating in activities you enjoy.
n Be seen by your team as likeable and pleasant to be around.
n Have to occasionally manage your discontentment with certain aspects of your life.
Although you have no low scores in any of the four subscales typically tied to happiness, or in any other EI skill area, you may
benefit from ensuring your development goals are linked to improving your Happiness. Are there additional goals that you can
set to achieve things that are important to you, leading to an increased sense of well-being?
Action Plan
The steps you take towards achieving your EI goals will determine S PECIFIC
whether or not success is realized. Use this step-by-step activity
plan to help guide you closer to your goals. Remember to use the
M EASURABLE
SMART goal setting criteria for each goal. A CTION-ORIENTED
R EALISTIC
T IMELY
Write down up to three EI skills or behaviors that you would Write down up to three overall qualities that you would like to
like to further develop (e.g., “reflective listening” to build have (e.g., integrity, providing clear leadership, team player,
empathy, or “recognizing how my body reacts to stress” to clear communicator). In some way the goals you outline in
raise emotional self-awareness). The SMART goals that you this action plan should help you achieve the overall qualities
outline in the template should help to strengthen these EI you identified.
skills and behaviors.
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
Transfer your SMART goals into the action plan template below.
EI Development Commitment
A Development Commitment is a tool to help hold you organization’s demands win the competition for our time
accountable for accomplishing the goals outlined in and attention. By outlining your objectives here and
your action plan. As we all too often know, our plans leaving a copy with your coach you are increasingly more
for personal growth and development often fall by accountable to reach your personal goals.
the wayside when we get engrossed in work and our
1.
2.
3.
4.
For today’s time-pressured leader, the following is a guide to harness EI skills to strike the elusive work-life balance:
V Delegate
Harness the power of delegation; assign tasks to your team to alleviate the burden of competing deadlines. Leverage
Interpersonal Relationships to identify those who can shoulder some obligations, or those who need exposure or
development in a particular task, and use Flexibility to ensure fair distribution of work.
V Prioritize responsibilities
Leaders must ensure that duties are prioritized according to importance, and tackle obligations in order of impact on
organizational goals. Use Reality Testing to address the most significant issues, and implement Problem Solving to create
a plan to address tasks.
Take a quick survey of all the people you work with on a daily basis. Chances are you interact with people representing
every generation: Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and the latest addition to the workforce, Millennials. Although generation
gaps have always been present in the workplace, never have we encountered such differences in values, communication
styles, and expectations of leadership mixing together on the company stage. By leveraging your EI skills, you can capitalize
on the dynamic work environment created from this mix of generations, while minimizing the tension that can arise when
different expectations are present.
Leverage Empathy and Flexibility in order to manage the generation gap. Here are some suggestions:
Empathy Flexibility
- View your leadership style from the perspective of - Be tolerant of different tactics/approaches for
each generation, then from the perspective of each communication. Show that you are open to using
individual. different methods for communication.
- Ask questions to uncover what your team members - Accommodate different learning styles amongst your
value and what motivates them. team, and offer them alternatives (i.e., mentoring,
e-learning, hands on training).
- Value each person as unique and having individual
needs, regardless of the generation they belong to. - Keep an open mind to alternative or innovative
approaches to work. Your way may not be the
only way.
The table below outlines some common trends for each generation. These characteristics may help you uncover the root
of different expectations and preferences amongst your team. However, use your Interpersonal Relationships skills to form
solid bonds with those you lead and get to know them personally; generational stereotypes should never replace healthy
conversations between a leader and his or her team.
This generation… prefers communication values things like… approaches work by…
that is….
Baby Boomers - s tructured and systematic, - expertise and experience - separating professional
like performance reviews - institutional and political and personal life
•b
orn between
1946–1964 - face to face knowledge - building strong
- social contributions relationships and networks
and loyalty