Tag Archives: Emotional Intelligence

Containing Your Power Out of Respect

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By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea on values-based decision-making. Reading time: 2:59

The architect proudly illustrated his design for a new manufacturing plant. Executives nodded approvingly.

ARCHITECTUREThen the CEO noticed that the layout of the manufacturing plant placed the loudest machines adjacent to a residential street.

In an instant he made decision to scrap this layout in favor of a new design that inverted the plant layout, placing the other end of the plant (a quieter shipping area) adjacent to the neighbors.

“That’ll cost us $150,000 to redo this plan,” objected the plant manager. The CEO didn’t flinch at the financial loss.” He was too focused on “treating those people who live on that street the way I would want to be treated if I lived there.”

The CEO’s demonstration of his emotional intelligence taught his executives Continue reading →

Fatherhood: Jack Nicklaus Tees Up a Winner

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By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea on getting in touch with your humanity. Reading time: 6:11

You may know Jack Nicklaus – the famed Golden Bear– as the greatest professional golfer of all time.

Jack Nicklaus in 1978

Jack Nicklaus in 1978

But I got to know a very personal side of Jack Nicklaus -light years away from the golf course.

And in the process he taught me a lesson in personal leadership that I never forgot: Get in touch with your feelings -especially off the job- so that you can better focus your performance on the job.

Peter Jeff interviews Jack Nicklaus in Juy 1973

It was 1973 and at 33 Jack Nicklaus was at the top of his game.

The Golden Bear so dominated the professional golf world that three weeks later he would break Bobby Jones’ 43-year record for winning the most major golf championships. That’s a record Nicklaus still holds today 40 years later, a record that Tiger Woods still needs five majors to break.

Back then, I was a newspaper reporter for The Miami Herald in Florida. I worked out of the newspaper’s West Palm Beach, just 9 miles from Jack Nicklaus’ home in North Palm Beach.

I Balked

On Tuesday afternoon, July 24, 1973 The Miami Herald got a news tip from Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach that Jack Nicklaus would be visiting the nursery ward to see his fifth born child (Michael) for the first time.

My editor assigned me to interview Jack Nicklaus at the hospital. I balked. Continue reading →