As leaders in organisations, we are often left wondering what we need to work on in ourselves to further develop in leadership. One area that has been growing in prominence is the area of emotional intelligence (EI). Studies have shown there is a link between EI and indicators of well-being and effectiveness. Particularly, research amongst human service industries has shown that by increasing EI workers demonstrated better overall increased health and well-being, improved work satisfaction, more developed spiritual well-being, and a reduction in risk of burnout. Essentially, all these facets replicated into better productivity and effectiveness. Scholars such as Marvin Oxenham, John Lee West, Daniel Goleman, and Peter Scazzero would say that EI is even more important than Intelligent Quotient (IQ). IQ is fixed in a person and cannot be altered. However, neuroscience has shown that EI can be developed due to the plasticity of people’s brains. This means that a person can increase their EI.
Research that I have undertaken surrounding EI has shown that human service workers in the religious sphere, with higher forms of EI, had greater sustainability and resilience in their leadership. My studies also showed that formation in EI has better effect in a person’s leadership journey when undertaken earlier rather than later in their education and training. Healthy leadership formation needs to include emotional intelligence (EI), but intentional formation and reflective practice are needed for this to occur. When EI is not formed in leaders, some of their qualities may remain diminished such as their self-awareness, insight, empathy, humility, integrity, assertiveness, emotional expression, and relational skill. Instead, because of their low self-awareness in emotional intelligence they may form more coercive and narcissistic type behaviours that lack empathy, and present with a reduced understanding of people and relational dynamics.
As part of the University of Divinity’s initiatives, the Leadership Program in the School of Professional Practice is empowering, equipping and educating people in leadership to understand the important aspects in their leadership within organisations, especially, in relation to emotional intelligence. In this we ensure that leaders have a chance to become more self-reflective, understand ethical aspects in their leadership, and can lead others in healthy and relational ways. The courses also engage the handling of conflict and change in effective and appropriate ways, how to communicate effectually, and even balance organisational budgets. The Graduate Certificate in Leadership (Organisational Leadership stream) is now open for enrolment for the July intake, check us out at https://divinity.edu.au/study/leadership/. This course is aimed at professionals and is based on shorter or micro units to enable students to keep their work-life balance. Students will become transformed through the provision of an integrated learning experience, to increase their emotional intelligence and be better equipped in leadership.
More about the Leadership Program
Rev. Dr Keith Mitchell is the Leadership Program Director with responsibility for coordinating delivery of the Master of Leadership and its nested Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate, within the School of Professional Practice. The leadership program equips and enables leaders across the University’s partners in churches, religious congregations, faith-based agencies, other not-for-profits, government and non-government agencies, and, increasingly other organisations, in developing a strong values-based approach in their leadership formation.
Glen O'Brien
Garry Worete Deverell
School of Indigenous Studies
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