The day we were weaned off mother’s milk signified a completed step in our development.  Reaching school-going age another, commencing our working lives another and realizing the need to become influential, no matter our role in the organisation, another.

Influencing others can be draining.  In our previous two columns we explored the need for you to have enough energy to be influential.  While you have people around you that take their energy from you, your energy levels will always be difficult to maintain.  To give enough to all the takers out there and still have enough spare for your own role and the preservation of your immune system, you need a lot of available energy every day.

To make it easier for you to maintain your energy levels, begin weaning people off their reliance on you for their energy. 

Notice how everyone wants recognition for their ongoing motivation, while so few give it. 

Notice how so many have the need to be included but when it comes to their realm they don’t include. 

See how people need clarity, support, a healthy working environment but rarely make these outcomes their responsibility.  Everyone wants to be trusted but so few trust.

We have created this energy dependency by instilling the belief that everything is up to the leaders.  As a result leaders have the responsibility to feed this need unless something changes. 

What needs to be changed is the level of Emotional Quotient (EQ) in our teams.  We need mature, interdependent, self-driven and accountable people who have the ability to discern between right and wrong, effective and ineffective, sustainable and unsustainable, entitlement and contribution.

High levels of EQ that lead to the ability to discern, result in individuals realizing success is in their hands.  These people do not allow themselves to become victims of circumstance and definitively don’t make their energy levels somebody else’s responsibility.  They will be the ones to offer a hand, take the lead, instigate movement, see things through, drive and add value.

I do not see this level of EQ often.  I believe our schooling didn’t help when teachers completely neglected life-skill training.  I do feel however that the situation is possible to change.  People do learn when offered the opportunity to do so.  EQ is a subject that can be taught.  With the right approach even the most dire of challenges can be overcome. 

Developing EQ in your team can change everything.  Developing everything else and leaving EQ levels low, changes nothing.

By Louis Gerke

Development Facilitator – The Ripple Effect