Pretty Amazing Grace – Obama and Emotional Intelligence

I always had high hopes for President Obama, and while he may have failed to bring about change at the pace many hoped for (remember “yes we can”?), he will be remembered for something wonderful, long after his Presidency is over.

He broke into song,  Amazing Grace, and he talked about “grace”, during the memorial service to one of the Charleston victims.

That he did so in the style of a Southern Baptist preacher, fuelled by the call and response of the congregation and supported by the swelling church organ was pretty amazing and exactly what that congregation needed to hear from their President at that moment.  This in itself showed great emotional intelligence, sensing the feelings in that room (and of the millions watching) and choosing an appropriate, if daring intervention to manage those feelings.

But what about the concept of grace?

“Reverend Pinckney … conducted himself quietly and kindly and diligently,” Obama eulogised, “He encouraged progress not by pushing his ideas alone but by seeking out your ideas, partnering with you to make things happen. He was full of empathy and fellow feeling, able to walk in somebody else’s shoes and see through their eyes.”

Now that strikes me as summing up everything we talk about in personal development when we use terms like Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Skills.  The idea that grace is simply the act of charity, empathy and forgiveness to others strikes a chord with me and I wonder if this is at the heart of what should be instilling in others.

A workplace where grace is the everyday norm, a place where we share challenges, successes, even defeats.  A workplace with a bit more humility and a whole lot more forgiveness… A workplace where we take time to really know each other and what’s important to each of us.  Now that’s grace.

Reverend Pinckney had that grace, Obama has that grace. Surely we can show we have that grace too, in everything we do.

 

JD

 

3 Leadership Ideas:

 

  1. What does your audience need to hear from you right now?
  2. In what situations can you show more empathy to people and what might that achieve?
  3. How are mistakes or failure treated in your organisation? With “grace” or something else?
Posted by John Drysdale
10th July 2015
John's Blog

News

New Projects for Summer/Autumn 2018

It has been a really rewarding couple of weeks here at No Guru with new work and wonderful new clients added to our portfolio.

This week we met with the Senior Team at Irwell Valley Homes who have commissioned a project in support of their new brand. (more…)

No Guru now working with University of Huddersfield

Quarter 1 has started off with brilliant news, a newly commissioned programme of delivery for the University of Huddersfield to deliver ‘Strategic Thinking in Higher Education’ as part of an ambitious programme of development for Senior Managers. This leads to a recognised qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.  Head of Staff Development, Daniel Benton explains (more…)

Coaching for Results: Event with Professional Liverpool

We are delighted to be partnering with Professional Liverpool to deliver a FREE seminar on Monday 5th March (3pm to 5pm).

This explores the role of Coaching (and Mentoring) in helping staff deliver business results.  The session will be run by John Drysdale and will be a chance to find out how you can coach more effectively and perhaps consider a role in Coaching and Mentoring through our ILM Programmes.

To reserve your place click here. (more…)

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Speaking Truth to Power

For those afraid of speaking …

(But) TED is a tough, pressured, hugely stressful gig, even for experienced public speakers, and I’m not that. Standing in the wings waiting to go on, I told the stage manager that my heart was racing uncontrollably and in an act of great kindness, she grasped both my hands and made me take breath after breath. And what you don’t see in the video – deftly edited out – is the awful, heart-stopping moment when I forgot a line, followed by another act of collective kindness, a spontaneous empathic cheer as I composed myself and found my cue. “That’s when the audience came onside,” an attendee told me. “You were human. That’s when you won them over.”  Guardian April 2019

 

This from Carole Cadwalladr, a journalist at the Guardian who has in this last year investigated the role of tech corporations and their platforms in influencing the workings of our democracy.  What makes her TED talk so compelling is because here she is facing those very same technology giants on their turf.  And speaking truth to power.

(more…)

Coaching: Deep Impact

This week I had the chance to attend a seminar at the Leeds Coaching Network featuring renowned coach, writer and speaker Julie Starr.  You may be familiar with some of Julie’s work including; ‘The Coaching Manual’, ‘The Mentoring Manual’ and ‘Brilliant Coaching’ and the session was everything you expected it to be. (more…)

The Immortal Memory: Robert Burns

Address to The Liverpool Athenaeum  2nd February 2018

I was delighted to be asked by club President Sir David Maddison to deliver The Immortal Memory at The Athenaeum Burns evening which I attended with my wife Fiona. This is a huge honour for any Scot and I hope I did it justice.  Burns provides such a rich tapestry I found it a real challenge to be succint and speak in a way that would connect with the audience – I chose to set Burns against the universal themes we recognise today and in the challenges we face in uncertain times.  I hope you enjoy it.   JD

 

The Immortal Memory – Robert Burns 1759-1796

The Athenaeum 2nd Feb 2018

President, ladies and gentlemen, fellow proprietors and distinguished guests.  I am honoured to propose the Immortal Memory this evening.

To one Robert Burns who lived between 1759 and 1796.

(more…)