I owned a software business for 31 years and at my exit, had 32 employees. I realized, at some point, that a cultural fit was more important than a skills fit. We could teach the skills, but the culture piece was a little bit more challenging. We used several different tools over the years but the one that has been the most consistent is The Emotional Intelligence assessment. This tool was most beneficial when I was forming my leadership and succession teams. I found that a leader with a low emotional intelligence score has a tough time gaining the respect of their direct reports and team members. The end result at the business is that everyone on the leadership and succession teams had higher emotional intelligence which allowed for better communication, empathy, and respect from the entire team.

I have a keen interest and passion about how Emotional Intelligence plays into coaching leaders and succession plans that I decided to become certified in Emotional Intelligence, so that I could continue to help other business owners create a great team environment.