During my reading this past week I came across something the both lifted my spirits and stepped on my expectations. The quote was from Claudio Fernandez-Araoz a partner in the executive search firm Egon Zehnder International. As a result of his exposure to several thousand hiring cases he makes the following assertion about organizations in the search for senior leadership:
"...the classic profile organizations look for in hiring a senior executive (relevant experience and outstanding IQ) is much more a predictor of failure than success, unless the relevant emotional intelligence competencies are also present" (As cited in Posner, Kouzes, 2010, p. 64).Since my resume only shows smaller organizational executive leadership, it was like a revelation to hear someone describe how "not" important experience was to the role in the absence of emotional intelligence. Leadership is about relationship. Leadership is about understanding that 70% of the choices we make and actions we take as humans is based on emotion. It is how we are wired. How our brains function.
I know in my history I have worked for both kinds of leaders. Those who you just can connect with. Those who would almost do anything for if they asked you [yes RS - I mean you]. Those who are genuine and will take the time to look you in the eye and want to understand who you are and what you are about. Of course there is always the other kind of leader - the ones who use manipulation, threats and play games. The job gets done - but it is not because of the respect of the leader - it's more because of the fear they create. I'm not sure I'll ever understand how these kinds of people get to where they are or why leadership above them seem to miss what is obvious to everyone under the oppressive leader.
In another one of my readings the author indicated:
"EQ [Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence] is so critical to success that it accounts for 58 percent of performance in all types of jobs. It’s the single biggest predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence" (Bradberry, Greaves, 2009, p. 20).This is exciting news for a leader looking to serve and organization and provide sound leadership through an understanding of emotional intelligence. There is only one problem, most organizations focus on experience and experience alone. Great.
I can only hope that as I continue the search for an organization looking for someone to provide leadership in Information Security or IT in general that there will be someone who will look beyond the fact that I have not been a CTO or CISO in my past - but see that I possess the capability to be a capable leader in the present with the capability to understand the importance of emotion and build strong relationships.
I look at experience on someone else's resume differently now. I see it just as what they have done before. It doesn't tell me if they did it on the backs of the people they worked with - or if they stood beside them and linked arms - or if they lifted them up so that they could be successful.
I hope to be the latter example. How about you?
Posner, Barry Z.; Kouzes, James M. (2010-07-16). The Truth about Leadership: The No-fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know (p. 64). John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
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