Master the various types of intelligence

Hunt For Greatness

Milton Kamwendo

Greatness is built by mastery of various forms of intelligences that enable you to rise above the ordinary.

Most people only know about IQ (intelligence quotient). For greatness, there is more. Here are seven intelligences in my experience that together serve as a foundation for building and sustaining greatness.

 Emotional intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence is the bedrock of leadership. When you have a high EQ, you understand your own emotions and can empathise with others. You are also good at building relationships and leading others effectively.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to remain composed under pressure.

It is being able to lift yourself up and motivate and inspire others. With EQ you can handle conflicts with grace and tact. Emotional intelligence helps you foster trust, loyalty and collaboration. To develop your EQ, practice active listening and empathy. Regularly reflect on how your emotional responses influence your decision-making and behaviour.

Value the feedback that other people get. You may want to start by getting a good personality profile. This helps you understand yourself better and how you can direct your own behaviour as you interact with others.

Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

Cultural intelligence is the ability to work and relate effectively across diverse cultures.

This is even more crucial as your greatness increases and you work across different cultures and geographies.

With a high CQ, you are able to navigate cultural differences with ease and respect.  This allows you to value and appreciate other people that come from different backgrounds, languages and cultures. Further, this allows you to see and value people beyond the surface issues and popular biases. CQ allows you to build inclusive teams. It helps you avoid misunderstandings and leverage diverse perspectives for innovation and problem-solving.

Travel often; listen to people that are not like you. Be open to learn and work with people that come from a different setting.

Continuously expose yourself to different cultures. See beyond your village.

Be intentional about learning from those whose perspectives and experiences differ from yours.

Strategic intelligence (SQ)

Strategic intelligence is the ability to make sense of what is happening and engage foresight thinking. It is the ability to plan for the future. When you have strong strategic intelligence, you can align short-term actions with long-term objectives. You can identify emerging trends and position yourself for future growth and sustainability. Regularly review and refine your strategic goals. Think about the future and how you can journey there.

With SQ, you practice “back from the future” thinking. You look at whatever is happening with strategic eyes and an opportunity mindset.

Stay updated on trends. Think beyond the immediate horizon. Think about your winning aspiration, where you will play and how you will win. Work on developing the capabilities that you need to play to win and not just to play.

SQ is a way of thinking and steering.

Resilience intelligence (RQ)

Resilience intelligence is about bouncing back from adversity and pushing through challenges. In building greatness, you encounter obstacles, delays and discouragement.

The ability to maintain focus, adaptability and perseverance sets you out for greatness. Cultivate a growth mindset by viewing failures as learning opportunities. Embrace challenges with optimism and resilience. Look at greatness as a process and not just an event. It is a growth process.

 Moral intelligence (MQ)

Moral intelligence is your commitment to live by principles and integrity.

With high moral intelligence, you make decisions based on what is right, not merely what is expedient. You know what you will stand for and what you will not stand for.

MQ enables you to earn trust and respect. Your standards are higher than those of a chameleon. Define your core values and ensure they guide every decision you make.

Build systems of accountability and have people that you can account to.

There must be people that can speak to you and challenge you. A good mentor is not just someone you just follow and listen to; it is what you do about what you hear that matters.

 Institutional intelligence (II)

Institutional intelligence is your ability to navigate, understand and work within the institutions that you are part of. With strong institutional intelligence, you know how to align people and processes.

You stop being frustrated trying to change everyone, but you understand how to influence and get things done. You understand how to mobilise people, power, systems and processes of your organisation to get things done.

Spend time understanding the history, culture and operational structure of your organisation. Identify and implement improvements that enhance efficiency and foster growth.

Start by building on that which is working. People with II respect authority and learn to navigate despite the bureaucratic shackles that are sometimes frustrating.

 Storytelling intelligence (SI)

Storytelling intelligence is critical for building greatness. This intelligence goes beyond communication. It is the ability to craft and tell stories that captivate, inspire and influence.

Stories are powerful tools for making sense of complex ideas, motivating action and building connection. Mastering storytelling helps you communicate vision in a resonant manner. It helps you touch hearts and change minds.

It plants pictures, evokes emotions and stirs people to action. Great leaders have always been great storytellers. Storytelling allows you to communicate principles in unforgettable ways.

Storytelling is a strategic tool to rally support, inspire teams and instil culture. A compelling story conveys purpose, implants mission and makes your vision tangible.

Storytelling is about tailoring your message to different audiences.It is knowing when to share personal stories. It is using narrative to guide and lead. Practice storytelling by sharing your personal experiences and your organisation’s journey. Use stories to make your message more relatable and inspiring.

Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: mkamwendo@gmail.com