There’s a misconception out there that outstanding entrepreneurs are born that way. People often think the successful ones possess certain traits – quick decision making, a charming personality, ability to take risks, and more – that make them good at what they do, and if you don’t have those traits, you can’t operate at their caliber.

That simply isn’t accurate.

The traits that make an exceptional entrepreneur aren’t personality traits at all. They are emotional intelligence skills.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is not something your born with. It’s a set of skills that can be learned.

What is EQ?

Emotional intelligence is thought of as “the other kind of smart.” Separate from IQ, EQ affects how we behave, make choices, and navigate social situations. It’s composed of:

• Self awareness
• Self management of your emotions and behavior
• Social awareness, or ability to “read” other people
• Relationship management

While those sound more like personal skills than career skills, they are just as important at the office as anywhere else. Strong EQ skills translate to:

• Giving great presentations
• Decision making ability
• Trustworthiness
• Anger management
• Assertiveness
• Communication skills
• Flexibility

Those are all important skills in an job performance, but when working with clients in particular, emotional intelligence skills are highly valuable. In fact, these skills are so essential, not having EQ skills is a sure-fire way to push clients away and prevent new ones from hiring you.

What are the EQ skills that clients value most?

Commitment to excellence – In short, there’s no such thing as “good enough.” When serving clients, entrepreneurs must always maintain a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done right.

Composure – They keep their feelings in check, even in the face of frustration or chaos. If they need to have a tough conversation, they can do so without losing their cool.

Ability to Focus – They remember what really matters and what they’ve been hired to do, even when there are distractions.

Responsibility – Have you ever worked with someone who sees a problem and says, “Oh, it’s always been that way?” It’s frustrating, and the opposite of the reaction from an exceptional entrepreneur. She assumes personal responsibility to fix problems she comes across.

Ability to Communicate – It’s important that an entrepreneur can effectively communicate with a client, but even more important that she know the first rule of communication is listening. Clients want to be listened to and understood.

Humility – They have the ability and accountability to admit when they’re wrong or they’ve made a mistake because they keep their egos in check.

How can you learn to increase EQ skills?

After seeing that list, you might be wondering if it’s possible to to increase your capacity for one or more of those EQ skills. Experts say it absolutely is.

In his book, The Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence, Justin Bariso outlines the steps to increase your EQ:

1. Reflect in your own emotions – and identify how they make you respond
2. Ask others for perspective – a trusted coach or mentor is an ideal source for this
3. Observe your emotions going forward – based on what you’ve learned
4. Pause before you respond – this applies to written and verbal conversations
5. Explore the why – in order to increase your empathy for others
6. Don’t take offense – take criticism as a learning opportunity instead

It takes a lot of effort, experience, and know-how to keep clients happy, but doing so will turn your business into a Legacy Business. It’s the difference that keeps clients working with you year after year and recommending you to their friends and colleagues.

If you want to hone your client management skills to make your job easier and your clients happier, contact me today.

 

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Blueprint Magazine – Volume 4

“Celebrating Generations”

In this latest issue of The Blueprint, several articles focus on what to do as spring draws to a close and summer begins so that you can smartly meet your professional and personal goals. Articles are written by authors spanning all generations, filled with knowledge to inspire and motivate you.

Here is a sampling of what you will discover in this edition…

• The Best Gift Of All by Pauline Duncan-Thrasher
• Are We There Yet? by Joan Williams
• The Women of Global Change Youth Initiative by Cheyenne Hunt
• The Rise Of The New Economy by Cynthia Mabry
• In Life and In Work, Be Anything But Common by Celeste Giordano
• The Importance Of Reviewing Quarterly by Brigitta Hoeferle
• The Technology Buying Cycle: How Often Should Your Business Update Its Technology? by Jason Rush
• When It’s A Mistake To Hire A Writer & When It’s The Right Move by Katherine Copeland
• Ultimate Mission Impact: There Is Only One Solution by Sheree Allison
• and much more!

My hope is that The Blueprint inspires you in all aspects of your life – to grow your business, to prosper in your personal life and to serve the community and world around you.

Click here to subscribe for your free copy.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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