It can be difficult to find purpose in what seems like a lost world. I know that the COVID-19 situation we experienced is referenced often, but it has made a massive impact on how organisations do business and how we value personal time. Forbes (2021) describes how as leaders we need to consistently make sure that we are bringing in the best talent, retaining team members, and increasing engagement. They describe how purpose is one of the most important ways that we can achieve these factors. In my book, The Henka Effect, one of the HenkaQ’s that I have described is the HungerQ. If you are familiar with the HenkaQ’s from the Henka Model, you will know that HungerQ encapsulates purpose, passion, and belief. It is through purpose, passion, and belief, that I have described leaders as being driven to make long-lasting, intrinsically valuable improvements to people’s lives and societies.
An indispensable attribute of purpose, passion, and belief is Emotional Intelligence. In the Henka Effect, Emotional Intelligence is described as the ability to recognise your emotions and the capacity to collectively harness those emotions and apply them. While I go onto describing how Goleman has broken down Emotional Intelligence, I would like to shine a light on self-regulation and Positive Intelligence, specifically within organisations.
There is a practicality and power to Positive Intelligence, and it is underestimated completely. Organisations and leaders as coaches understand the importance of Positive Intelligence, and they use it to amplify success. Positive Intelligence was detailed as a measure of mental control and how well your mind acts in its best interests. To use exercise as a basic example, a person with a high Positive Intelligence quotient is a person that has exercised and trained their positive mental muscles to be strong. It is through this strong positive muscle memory that leaders can build opportunities for growth and support. Positive Intelligence does not necessarily have to be a trait that a leader possesses naturally, it can be trained and built over time.
Trying to cultivate Positive Intelligence does, however, demand a conscious effort to develop our strengths and recognise our potential. Here are a few simple ways that Positive Intelligence can be built.
Put self-reflection into practice.
Take time each day to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and how they are affecting your life. Self-reflection could be likened to awareness, and the concept of being aware is something that I emphasise in The Henka Effect. It is essential to be aware of what is happening on an individual level or an organisational level to make the change.
Implement a support system.
Find supportive people who can help you stay focused and motivated. This is important on an organisational level with a team. There have been many research studies conducted showing results of increased levels of well-being and resilience. In my book, I mention that being a leader as coach is all about supporting team members to grasp control of their Positive Intelligence.
Don’t forget to track your progress.
Monitor your progress and celebrate successes. In the spirit of positivity, it is essential to recognise achievements of any level. The reflection or rather the conscious action of tracking your progress gives a person a sense of purpose, resulting in further positivity. This purpose circles back to the concept of the HungerQ in The Henka Model.
To conclude
We must be finding a sense of purpose within ourselves and, ultimately, our teams and organisations. There is also power within Emotional Intelligence and Positive Intelligence, and it is a habit that organisations and leaders alike need to get into the habit of building. If you want to find out in detail the inner workings of the HungerQ and organisational leadership coaching, I recommend that you have a look at The Henka Effect today.
References:
Treece, Rachel. The Henka Effect: How Coaching is Transforming Leadership and Organisations (p. 155). Babysteps Publishing Limited. Kindle Edition.
Tracy Brower, P. (2022, November 09). The power of purpose and why it matters now. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/08/22/the-power-of-purpose-and-why-it-matters-now/
The Science of Positive Intelligence. (2022, August 24). Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.positiveintelligence.com/science/