Personnel Resources / Temp Resources

LQ = Leadership Intelligence - Have you got it?

19th September 2006

The concept of IQ - Intellectual Quotient and EQ - Emotional Intelligence is nothing new, in fact we have been measuring a persons intellect through various means since the turn of the century when the Binet Simon test was developed to measure the mental age of children. During world war one, American Congress banned military recruits with an IQ of under 80.

EQ was the buzz word of the 90's as a new way of looking at someone's interpersonal skills, it is the capacity to manage your own and interpret others emotions. It has been recognised for sometime that good leaders must have high EQ skills.

So what is LQ? LQ is Leadership Intelligence. A person with high Leadership Intelligence (LQ) is a person with authenticity and integrity. A person with a vision and a passion. They are well regarded within their inner community and hold a set of values that guides them in their work and personal lives. LQ is about having perception and the ability to have empathy with others and a determination to achieve a common goal. It is knowing who you are and what you believe in, and inspiring others to follow.

LQ is a holistic approach to leadership - it is Everything You Do, Everyday.

Leadership Intelligence (LQ) is taking Emotional Intelligence (EQ) skills to the next level, it is recognising that leadership today has evolved, our workplaces have evolved, society has evolved and our approach to leadership needs to constantly evolve.

LQ is the concept that distinguishes leaders from managers. Behind every successful team and organisation will be a leader high in LQ who inspires, motivates and challenges, a leader who shares common values and goals with their team. This leader will possess good EQ skills, they will have the ability to take control of a situation. They are not just someone in charge, dishing out orders. A leader without high LQ is simply a manager.

This raises the question; Are leaders born or are they made? - a question that causes much debate. I believe like EQ, with the right foundations a leader can be created, with the right ingredients - a reasonable level of IQ, high EQ skills, a clear set of values, the right motivations, drive and passion, great leaders with high levels of LQ can be created.

Why is LQ in business leadership so important? In today's businesses having leaders with high levels of LQ will contribute to greater people sustainability and increased productivity. Today's workplaces don't react to the old school autocratic style of leadership, people need to be inspired, included, valued fulfilled, they will seek leadership from someone who shares those values with them.