Have you ever wished your frustration fuse was a bit longer when a fellow leader shares an opposing view? Or even wondered why your fellow leader has an opposing view at all? Perhaps you recall a time when an executive struggled to understand what their team was feeling during a turbulent time. These are two common leadership scenarios that require high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ). What Is EQ? Simply put, EQ is the ability to identify and manage your own and others' emotions. Most EQ models include multiple perspectives: Self: Focus on your emotions and moods Others: Focus on the emotions and moods of those around you Recognizing Emotions: Focus on awareness of your own and others’ emotions Impacting Emotions: Focus on your ability to influence your own and others’ emotions Emotions are a defense mechanism. An emotion is an automatic, intense, and short-lived state that emerges in relation to a certain situation. Sometimes, emotions can affect an individual's ability to react and speed up. While EQ has always been a component of getting along and getting ahead in the workplace, it has gained popularity since the 1990s when Daniel Goleman wrote Emotional Intelligence, which suggests that EQ is [...]

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries across the globe. The executive search and leadership consulting profession is no exception. The industry stands poised for transformation. John Collins, Ph.D., a FinTech pioneer and founder of Deep Vertical AI, believes AI will not replace human practitioners, but rather will empower them in new and exciting ways. AI Augmentation Collins envisions AI dramatically enhancing the capabilities of search professionals, including streamlining processes, increasing market and competitive intelligence, complementing human decision-making and much more. "Imagine if the executive search person can supercharge their expertise with infinite knowledge that's available instantaneously through a wearable device," he explains. "If she's talking to me and all of the technical jargon that I'm using is being replayed to her through a set of Ray Ban frames via an AI model… she has that information flow available to her in real time." Consultants already bring expertise, rigorous methodologies and data to an assignment. Collins anticipates a time when AI-powered insights are available to a consultant instantaneously. “Her instincts are telling her this candidate is really good. The AI is telling her why.” John Collins, Ph.D., is a renowned AI expert and visionary. With a distinguished career in artificial intelligence, [...]

From Diamond in the Rough to Shining Success In an era where customer centricity has become a universal aspiration, many organizations still struggle to translate this ambition into tangible results. According to Steven Van Belleghem, renowned customer experience expert and entrepreneur, the journey from aspiration to achievement requires four fundamental transformations that focus not on major investments, but on mindset shifts and daily actions. The Four Transformations 1. From Negativity to Positivity In today's challenging business environment, Van Belleghem advocates for organizations to provide a counterweight to prevailing negativity. "I'm still surprised by how many companies communicate all the things they will not do for their customers," he notes. One solution lies in examining micro-communications—from automated invoices to payment reminders—and infusing them with positivity. "You don't need to change the world," Van Belleghem suggests. "Start by changing someone's day." 2. Building Authentic Credibility The second transformation centers on establishing genuine credibility in customer-centric initiatives. Van Belleghem poses a critical question to leaders: "Are you willing to hurt yourself in the short run to gain trust in the long run?" He cites Disney's "hugging rule" as an exemplar of customer-centric symbolism—when a child hugs a Disney character, the child decides when [...]