Leaders need to be mentally tough to have the strength and resolve to set the course for their team and not be distracted or diverted by setbacks, detractors or alternative opportunities. A common situation for many leaders is that they are too mentally tough. They can be too self-focused and inflexible at the expense of not tuning into their people. Leaders need to address the balance between their high mental toughness and low social intelligence.
These are the skills that US author and psychologist Daniel Goleman has labeled emotional and social intelligence and in this ‘oldie but goldie’ Harvard Business Review video he outlines what these labels mean and why they are important.