Hay Group brings its Harvard Based Leadership Programme to Middle East

"It's not just about being clever, it's about emotional intelligence 'EI' and the more people advance in their career, especially in today's tough business environment, the more important their interpersonal skills become." said Hay Group's Barbara Darling, Head of Leadership and Talent for the Middle East.

"We've all come across someone who's 'lost it' in a meeting, or gone blank at a presentation, or who creates a bad atmosphere in a team. The question is how much has this behaviour been costing their business? And how much might raising EI levels do for their business? For example, managers of an oil refinery who participated in Hay Group's EI development programme over two years showed a 20 per cent increase in performance compared to their peers who did not participate," she added.

What's more, a low level of EI can actually hold you back. She continued, "Think of the boss who loses their temper - out of control emotions can render the smartest people ineffective. Recognising our own feelings and those of others, motivating ourselves, managing emotions in ourselves and in our relationships is what makes an emotionally intelligent leader."

Hay Group's programme is focused on the fewest but most effective things a leader can do to make an impact on business results said Darling, "We take a look at what you bring to your job and how this matches the demands of your role; what leadership styles you are using to motivate, and what type of organisational climate this is creating for those around you. We show leaders how they can create a climate where people want to give their best. You don't have to do everything but there are some essentials that each leader can do in order to be more effective."

Working on your leadership effectiveness via an awareness and development of your EI pays proven business dividends. She continued, "If you as a manager can create a positive organisational climate, you tap into an extra 35 per cent of additional effort from your employees, which has a direct impact on business performance - profitability, efficiency and cost optimisation."

Can all this be learned? Emphatically yes, if you want to said Darling, "There's a lot you can do to improve or understand your EI and how you come across as a leader. It's not easy and it takes time and commitment to break old habits and establish new ones. We support participants on the programme in creating a practical development plan to do just that. It can be done - and there's a business payback."

Hay Group's Making Great Leaders programme will take place in Dubai on 19th -
21st November 2012.