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Abstract
Today's business environment requires dramatically different leadership from previous years. The 21st century workforce expects a more humanistic style of leadership that goes beyond intellectual and technical know-how to encompass a more open, value-oriented mindset associated with an emotional intelligent leader. This paper explores this type of leader and the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-actualization. Using the model of Bradberry and Greaves (2009), the authors look at how emotional intelligent leaders achieve Maslow's (1954) highest order of self-actualizing behavior. The authors outline how leaders possessing the four skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management fulfill Maslow 's highest human potential.
Keywords: emotional intelligence, leadership, self-actualization, humanistic leadership, fully functioning person
Introduction
The psychological contract between associates and leaders has changed dramatically over the years. Individuals are now seeking a more humanistic style of leadership in their organizations that can satisfy their individual needs. Organizations are being pressured by our society to become more open, value-oriented entities (Marques, Dhiman, & King, 2007). Twenty-first-century leadership requires much more than having cognitive intelligence and technical knowledge. Tindell (2014), Chairman and CEO of The Container World, pointed out today's capable leader also must possess the skills found with emotional intelligence.
Bradberry and Greaves (2009) defined emotional intelligence as the "...ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to manage your behavior and relationships" (p. 17). Goleman (2004) defined the five components of an emotionally intelligent individual as being one who possesses: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Bradberry and Greaves (2009) in their research found 58% of the success attributed to job performance relied upon one's emotional intelligence and, further, stated emotional intelligence consists of two primary competences and four skills. The two competencies included personal competence and social competence, and the four skills included self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management (p. 24). Bryson's (2005) study noted characteristics such as coaching, motivating, listening, finding common ground and respecting and valuing diverse people were indicative behaviors of leaders with high emotional intelligence (p. 1). Monetary rewards and titles are not the primary motivators of emotionally intelligent individuals (Simmons, 2001).
Maslow (1970) argued individuals are motivated by specific needs. He categorized individual needs into a model consisting of five...