Written by: Prof. Dr. Frank Lee Harper, Jr., Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This article is the first in a series on “Intelligent Mindset," the “I” in A.G.I.L.E.—the first quality of “The Agile Leadership Framework™”—which requires seasoned and aspiring leaders to become flexible. It provides an overview of the series, which will discuss the emotional intelligence (EQ) and the intellectual intelligence (IQ) of the “Intelligent Mindset." I will conduct the dialogue through an article dedicated to each of the six (6) lenses coined the “Six Eyes of the Intelligent Mindset." Each lens, or practice, along with its operational definition defined in the revised and updated first edition of my book, “A.G.I.L.E. L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. with a G.R.I.P™.: A Twenty-First Century Journey: From Street hustler to Strategic Hustler™” include:
Innovation is a change in the thought process for doing something or the practical application of new inventions or discoveries. It may refer to incremental emergent or radical and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations.
Insight involves understanding the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively. It is an understanding based on identifying relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario. An insight that manifests suddenly, such as understanding how to solve a complex problem, is also known as an epiphany.
Initiative is the ability and tendency to initiate (to start) an action, including coming up with a proposal and giving or helping without first being requested. Courage is initiative. To quote Aristotle, “Courage is the first human virtue because it makes all the others possible.” Leaders must have the will, strength, and confidence to go outside their comfort zone.
Influence is the ability of a person or group to produce effects indirectly using power based on wealth, high position, and knowledge, to name a few. Your ability to communicate effectively is connecting and moving people into action.
Interpersonal Skills are how well you communicate with someone and how well you behave or carry yourself. This awareness is insight. Here emotional intelligence (EQ) is vital. EQ awareness is self-awareness and then others' awareness. In other words, to empathetically connect with others, you must fully "know thyself" before you can come to know or connect with others. The list of things many people don't understand includes:
Why they behave the way they behave, react the way they respond, or believe what they believe;
Why do people annoy and rub them incorrectly, or why do they care about specific issues and not others;
Why do they feel comfortable in particular environments but not others;
Why do they feel frustrated, stressed, angry, anxious, nervous, and uncertain in certain situations where others do not; and
Why do they need help staying focused, disciplined, consistent, and sustaining self-control on those things they say they are committed to?
Integrity is more than an adherence to moral principles of honesty. It is having the courage to face the demands of reality. Research and empirical evidence support the importance of EQ and IQ in a leader with integrity. Without it, leaders were unable to successfully:
Gain the complete trust of the people they were leading and capture their hearts, minds, and hands.
See all the realities that were right in from of them. They had blind spots regarding themselves, others, the markets, customers, projects, opportunities, or other external realities that kept them from reaching their goals.
Work in a way that produces the outcomes they should have, given their abilities and resources.
Deal with problem people, negative situations, obstacles, failures, setbacks, and losses.
Create growth in their organizations, people, themselves, profits, or industry.
Transcend their interests and give themselves to significant purposes, thus becoming part of a larger mission
.
The contents of a future article in this series condense the six key character traits of integrity crucial for success in business and life. These include:
Earn Trust
Tell the Truth based on the face, eliminating friction
Finish strong
Positively embrace negativity
Focus on growing
Aim to exceed expectations
This overview of the "Intelligent Mindset" is completed. The following article will discuss the “Six Eyes of the Intelligent Mindset,” starting with “Innovation.”
Until then, all the best, continued success!
Prof. Dr. Frank Lee Harper, Jr., Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Frank Lee Harper, Jr. is the founder and world champion of agile leadership concepts. He is President ‒ UBTS International Corp having strategic affiliates in over 55 countries, Provost / Associate Professor ‒ Cambridge Corporate University, having branches in over 25 countries, while serving on for-profit and not-for-profit advisory boards. He is an award-winning IT leader and published author who is adept at influencing and teaching strategic transformations across multiple countries, industries, disciplines, and technologies for businesses having global revenues ($1+ Trillion); savings/growth ($10+ Billion); with budgets ($4+ Billion). His favorite motto is, "Leaders Are Born To Be Made."
Excerpts from:
A.G.I.L.E. L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. with a G.R.I.P.: A Twenty-First Century Journey from Street Hustler to Strategic Hustler™; First Edition Revised and Updated available on Amazon, Amazon.India, Createspace, and Pakistan Representatives.
Doctoral Dissertation “The Agile Leadership Framework in the Digital Economy: How Agile Leadership Shapes Business Transformation; CPI Institute of Graduate Studies, Cambridge Corporate University, Lucerne Switzerland.
Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality: How Six Essential Qualities Determine Your Success in Business.
