Smart vs. Healthy Quotient

When I started the Leadership Quest business over 25 years ago, we focused our clients on being smarter and better decision-makers in the CORE FOUR:

  1. Vision and Strategy
  2. Brand and Marketing
  3. Talent and Hiring
  4. Innovation and Technology

Slowly, I began to see that the smart quotient was only half of the equation of sustainable success. Equal, if not more important, I started emphasizing the healthy quotient:

  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Emotional Health and Balance
  • High Morale
  • Productivity Habits
I think of smart organizations and teams as the foundation of a strong business.
I think of healthy organizations and teams as the framing of a sustainable business.

What to understand?

First, understand that emotionally healthy teams are more productive and they experience better flow states. Less feelings of drain, anxiousness, fatigue, disruption, stress, and overwhelm. More feelings of calmness and clarity that lead to better productivity.

Second, getting in a flow state of creativity requires strategies that seem counter-intuitive to high productivity. The stress hormone cortisol, when hyperaroused leads to fight, flight, or freeze, then causes irritability, anger, and panic. When hypo aroused, it leads to lethargy, depression, and mental fogginess.

Help your team stay healthy and emotionally balanced with these simple habits:

  • Encouraging mindful breathing, taking deep breaths.
  • Regular stretches throughout the day.
  • Brisk walking and moving on breaks.
  • Strength and conditioning.
  • Calming music, meditation, and prayer.

On our discovery sessions with leaders, we suggest planning to implement our Emotional Intelligence with Emotional Health programs. I usually get one of the following reactions:

  • Quiet laughter, in a guilty way.
  • Relief, as this is exactly what they need right now.

I encourage you to put your team’s health as your #1 priority. We can partner together to formulate a customized, sustainable program to ensure smart and healthy teams.

NEW PROGRAM: Emotional Intelligence for Extraordinary Teams, includes the Emotional Intelligence and Energy Assessments

As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.

To book Steve today, contact Michelle Joyce!
(For information on keynote presentations, team workshops, and one on one coaching.)

“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”

About the Author

Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.

A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.