Leading with Emotional Intelligence:

Change You Can Believe In

Global Leadership Summit

Loma Linda University
February 2009

Dr. Susan M. Baker, Presenter

Oakwood University
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
 EI has been called one of the most important
skills of 21st century for personal and
professional effectiveness
 Is considered by some to be more significant
than intelligence quotient (IQ)
 Popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman
 Many EI principles are Bible based
Resources on EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
Why Discuss EI?
 Leaders need a toolbox of effective strategies
for leading people
 No matter where you are in the world,
intelligent control of emotions is difficult for
people
 In the global community, getting along with
people is becoming more important than
technical skills
 The challenges of leadership demand
knowledge of how emotions impact
effectiveness
Why Discuss EI Here?

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

aims to develop competent leaders
driven by mission and excellence
that inspires others to unity, growth,
quality of life and discipleship.

--Mission Statement from the Vision for Leadership

Development in the SDA Church
Definition

Emotional Intelligence Is:

1st The ability to understand your emotions and
the emotions of others

2nd The ability to manage emotions, both yours

and others

3rd The power to use emotions to enhance, and

not destroy
Biblical Insight

For the commandments…are summed up in

this one rule: “Love your neighbor as
yourself.”

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore,

love is the fulfillment of the law.
--Romans 13:9, 10
The World Health Organization

The decline in the ability to

control passions and emotions
for the common good, rather
than for self-interest, has
caused the destruction of peace
in individuals, families,
communities, countries, and the
whole world.
Iceberg in Antarctica
 Anger Fear
Compassion Contentment
Happiness
Pride Depression
Aggressiveness
Enthusiasm Euphoria Lust
Joy Self -doubt
Bitterness
Anxiety Love
Spiritual Fervor
Guilt and Shame
Confidence
Trust Envy
 All Emotions
Need Management
 The Emotional Center
PREFRONTAL
AREA
1

front back

AMYGDALA
How Emotions Get Us In
Trouble…
What the research says about:
 Hot emotions

 Cold emotions

 Low impulse control

Success Formula
Emotionally Unintelligent People

 Cause emotional train wrecks/general disturbance

 Get passed over for promotions
 Often have to change jobs frequently
 Constant drama with co-workers/subordinates
 Cause trouble in communities
 Raise *!+# in churches
 Have family and work problems regularly
 Make bad choices in love and other relationships
The Biblical Imperative

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when

brothers live in harmony. Psalm 133:1

If it is possible, as much as depends on you,

live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18
It Takes Work!

“But character is not the result

of accident; it is not due to
special favors or endowments of
Providence. A noble character is
the result of self-discipline, of the
subjection of the lower to the
higher nature--the surrender of
self for the service of love to God
and man.”
-Ellen White, Education
Four Keys To Building EI
#1 Self Awareness:
Being aware of your emotions and honest about their
impact on you and others

Includes:
 Being in touch with your emotional states

 Knowing your strengths and limitations

Biblical Insight: But let a man examine himself…

(1 Corinthians 11:28)
#2 Self Management:
Making your emotions work for you and not against you

Includes:
 Keeping destructive emotions under control
 Maintaining honesty and integrity at all times
 Developing optimism, seeing the positive

Biblical Insight: Better a patient man than a warrior, a man

who controls his (emotions) than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32
#3 Relationship Management:
Building collaborative and satisfying relations with others

Includes:
 Nurturing relationships with significant others

 Helping others succeed

 Managing conflict by using communication

Biblical Insight: 1 Corinthians 13

#4 Social Awareness:
Understanding and accepting the emotions and perspectives
of others

Includes:
 Accepting the diversity among people
 Being aware of how organizations work
 Service to others, the community, the world
 Working to achieve justice

Biblical Insight: …what does the Lord require of you but to do justly,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
How To Increase Your EI:

1) Commit to living with EI

2) Identify area(s) to work on
3) Set up a plan for change
4) Put plan into action and
evaluate results
5) Ask others you trust to help
6) Keep your emotional needs
satisfied (avoid HALT)
Ten Things ALL People Need. . .
 Support (encouragement/positive reinforcement)
 Trust (ability to be vulnerable with hopes and fears)
 Laughter (puts life into perspective)
 Touch (physical contact humans vital to life)
 Intimacy (knowing and letting yourself be known)
 Communication (speaking and listening)
 Sharing (common experiences give strength)
 Community (family, neighbors, state, country)
 Passion (enthusiasm, vitality, intense feeling)
 Love (integral to being human; need to give and get)
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your
everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work
and walking around life—and place it before God as an
offering…Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from
the inside out. --Romans 12:1, 2 (The Message Bible)
 God Bless You!

Oakwood University
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Huntsville, AL 35896
256.726.7000
www.oakwood.edu

Education. Excellence. Eternity.