— To follow is a bullet of wisdom on leadership. It comes from Tom’s rifle, named Shot, who has seen it all. You’ll get the drift by clicking Blog in the menu at www.tomnewhouse.com. —
A TENDERFOOT IS a novice unaccustomed to faced hardships. Oh, I’ve seen ‘em. They proceed with spooky caution. Well, sometimes. Other times, they think they are accustomed, but they are really tender and don’t know what’s afoot. The second kind is the worst: To think you know how you’ll react but don’t makes you dangerous.
Some leaders are the worst kind: They don’t know themselves. Emotionally Intelligent leaders accurately perceive their own emotions and understand their tendencies. Such a leader is not a tenderfoot. She or he knows what generates reactions in them and why. They have thought through their emotions. When in various situations, they assess their core feelings quickly. They understand how their buttons get pushed, what they might do, and what motivates them. They are in touch with themselves and ready to lead.