Quote EQ4U UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2026

This month’s theme of interdependence relates to individual, team, organisational, national and global levels. The critical need for recognition of interdependency at a global level has however become dangerously compromised by political leaders whose self/national-interest takes precedence over a rules based world order. The first of this month’s quotes emphasises the importance of relationships, and the second, while not directly related to interdependence, highlights an invaluable approach to deal with non-authentic communication at every level:

‘The strongest relationships are built by people who don’t need each other to survive, but choose each other to thrive.’
STEPHEN HEDGER
‘Be polite and respectful, but severely allergic to bullshit.’
PIERS MORGAN

The above listed on: COMMUNICATION & UNDERSTANDING – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
Words related to interdependence:
• Ally – a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose
• Affiliation – close association/connection with others
• Reciprocity – the practice of exchange for mutual benefit
• Cooperation/collaboration – the action or process of working together for the same end

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JANUARY 2026

A ‘values’ theme, i.e., the beliefs people have, especially about what is right and wrong and what is most important in life that influences their behaviour, feels a fitting topic for the beginning of a new year. And the values displayed by the world’s political leaders and their actions taken as a result that have the potential to affect us all are critical.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global leadership has come under particular scrutiny, and as the recognised leader of the Western world, a momentous opportunity to show principled global leadership was however cataclysmically avoided by US President, Donald Trump. Rather than emphatically condemning President Putin’s actions and unequivocally asserting the US’s ability to retaliate in support of Western democracies, on a visit to the US, President Putin was instead sycophantically treated as an honoured guest rather than the egregious warmonger that he is. A deeply troubling, catastrophic, hubristic and shameful approach, resulting in continued killing and destruction that could have been mitigated by principled, timely use of the threat of the US’s military power. Expediency trumping virtue springs to mind.

Both words and actions can convey honesty or hypocrisy in displaying true character and intention. The first of this month’s quotes emphasises a mismatch between words and action, and the second quote indicates the importance of having integrity based principles and values:

‘What you are thunders so loudly above what you say that I cannot hear you.’
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
‘If you stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything.’
ALEX HAMILTON (& OTHERS)

The above listed on: PHILOSOPHY – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
Extreme opposite terms with particular pertinence to leadership behaviour:

Sycophancy – obsequious behaviour towards someone important in order to gain advantage.

versus

Opprobrium – severe criticism/ blame.

Pusillanimous – weak and cowardly, frightened of taking risk.

versus

Bravery – courageous behaviour or character.

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – DECEMBER 2025

An effective vision statement describes what your organisation wants to become by ‘painting a picture with words’ that others can envisage in a concise, memorable and inspirational way. This month’s vision theme is a follow on from last month’s mission topic. Vision statement examples below:

Oxfam: “A just world without poverty.”

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) – ‘Our vision is a world where deafness and hearing loss are not barriers to opportunity and fulfilment.’

Quote of the month:

‘Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.’

WARREN BUFFETT

The above is listed on: PHILOSOPHY – EQ4U

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Four common abbreviations with Latin roots:

i.e. – The Latin id est means that is or in other words.
e.g. – From the Latin expression exempli gratia.
et al.- Derives from the Latin et alii, meaning and others.
etc. – Stands for et cetera, meaning and the rest/and so forth

*Grammar notes are dedicated to the memory of ‘Ruthless Editor’ Kathy Watson. Kathy’s book: ‘Grammar for people who hate rules’ is a helpful reference source. Link to book: https://amzn.to/2AaV5bE . The above abbreviations are referenced in Kathy’s book on pages 60-62.Search

*Grammar notes are dedicated to the memory of ‘Ruthless Editor’ Kathy Watson. Kathy’s book: ‘Grammar for people who hate rules’ is a helpful reference source. Link to book: https://amzn.to/2AaV5bE

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – NOVEMBER 2025

Mission, vision and values are the three cornerstones that aim to drive an organisation towards achieving its objectives by having an effect on the commitment and behaviours of the people involved. A mission statement is generally defined as a declaration of the purpose of an organisation, but can also apply to a team or group of people, or to an individual. Its aim is to encapsulate purpose or intent in clear, unambiguous language that is understandable to everyone involved. The leader’s role is to influence the organisation’s culture towards alignment with its stated mission; in particular, to stimulate, encourage and inspire the emotional engagement and behaviours of the people involved towards its achievement. November’s mission theme prompts the following:

‘A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history’.
MAHATMA GANDHI

Listed on: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

Checklist of main headings and key points for defining and communicating an inspiring mission: Click here

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

This month is a highlight on expression of differences between ‘could’ and ‘would’ plus ‘May I?’ (asking permission) and ‘Can I?’ (Am I able?’). Expressions that frequently tend to be used mistakenly.

‘Could’ is the past tense of ‘can’ and relates to what someone was able to do or to what might happen (possibility). And ‘would’ is the past tense of ‘will’ indicating willingness or intent (affirmation).

Examples:

‘Can I sit here?’ (Am I able?) rather than ‘May I sit here?’ (a request)
‘Can you open the door please’, (‘are you able?’) rather than ‘Will you open the door please’ (a request)
Can I speak to you? (Am I able?), rather than ‘May I speak to you?’ (a request)

For summary information:
difference between would and could in english grammar – Search

*Grammar notes are dedicated to the memory of ‘Ruthless Editor’ Kathy Watson. Kathy’s book: ‘Grammar for people who hate rules’ is a helpful reference source. Link to book: https://amzn.to/2AaV5bE

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – OCTOBER 2025

October’s theme is sagacity, the ability of having understanding and to making good judgments – a critical attribute of EQ leadership which seems so often to be singularly lacking. Sagacity’s associated attribute is phronesis, a term from ancient Greek philosophy meaning ‘practical wisdom’.
‘It is only with prudence, sagacity, and much dexterity that great aims are accomplished, and all obstacles surmounted.’
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
‘The above is listed on: PHILOSOPHY – EQ4U

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

An ongoing frustration is frequently hearing grammatical errors that incorrectly connect singular verbs with plural nouns, or vice versa. Subject/verb consistency should apply. Error examples heard recently:

• “There is two central points……….” – Jake Richards, MP on ‘Politics Live’ – 3.9.25 (also went on to refer to ‘less people’ rather than ‘fewer’.)
Correction: ‘There are two central points’

• “There is different varieties of tomatoes” – Presenter on ‘Morning Live’ 4.9.25
Correction: ‘There are different varieties of tomatoes.’

• “There are no shortage of people………” – Jeremy Corbyn, MP – during interview on Channel 4 News, 15.9.25.
Correction: ‘There is no shortage of people’

• “There are a small group of students…………..” Laura Kuenssberg on morning programme, Sunday 21.9.25.
Correction ‘ There is a small group of students.’

Link to a useful guide: Quick-Guide-to-Subject-Verb-Agreement.pdf

*Grammar notes are dedicated to the memory of ‘Ruthless Editor’ Kathy Watson. Kathy’s book: ‘Grammar for people who hate rules’ is a helpful reference source. Link to book: https://amzn.to/2AaV5bE

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2025

Deeply meaningful personal legacy focussed quotes for August, pertinent to leaders – and to us all:
‘Reputation is what folks think you are. Personality is what you seem to be. Character is what you really are.’
ALFRED ARMAND MONTAPERT
‘One day you’ll just be a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one.’
ANONYMOUS
The above listed both on: CHARACTER – EQ4U

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Fewer or less? – A reminder grammar note last posted in April 2023 – and one which I often both hear and read being used incorrectly:

The simple rule for using ‘fewer’ or ‘less’, is that if things can be counted it’s ‘fewer’, and if unable to be counted it’s ‘less’. Fewer/less distinctions have been noted on my peeve list for many years and Kathy refers to this in her ‘Top 10 misused words’ list on page 137 of her book. A couple of examples of erroneous uses of ‘less’ when it should have been ‘fewer’:
• Article, Sunday Times, June 28th 2020, P9 – ‘Less than three months…….’
• ‘Call Me Dave’ biography, P154 – ‘Less than twelve hours earlier………’

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – AUGUST 2025

Leaders facing global issues such as conflict, famine and economic challenges that so often seem insurmountable, requires a willingness and ability to take, bold, audacious and potentially risky decisions and actions to resolve. This month’s quotes reflect themes of both audacity and decision making wisdom:

‘If you are bold you might fail. If you are not bold you will fail.’
RENE CARAYOL

The above listed on: AUDACITY – EQ4U

‘We are in a disordered period of rising tensions, but then again, we usually are. Human competence races ahead, but wisdom remains as rare a commodity as it ever was’.
DANIEL YERGIN

The above listed on: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES – TO BE RESUMED NEXT MONTH

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JULY 2025

This month’s theme is the importance of reputation & trust – a critical element so often missing across a range of people interactions and relationships. And while trust is a key factor in building productive relationships in any context, it’s essential for the highest level of leadership and teamwork effectiveness. Growing cynicism by the electorate of political leaders seemingly prevails however, with trust increasingly depleted.
Feelings of trust mean having confidence, belief and reliance on others’ truthfulness, openness and honesty, reliability and good judgement. And however unwelcome, disagreeable, or inconvenient telling the truth may be, being trusted also means expressing honest facts and opinions with carefully considered words and phrases.. The following quotes from politicians of note:
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

‘The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.’
JOHN F KENNEDY

The above listed on: CHARACTER – EQ4U
For a thought on political leadership integrity, Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘7 Sins’ quote also springs to mind: ‘There are seven sins in the world: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.’
GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Expressing double negatives when intending to be positive is a common communication error, which forgets the rule that 2 negatives make a positive. A double negative is when two negative expressions are used in the same sentence. For instance:

“I can’t think of nothing”, which actually means “I can’t think of anything”
“I didn’t seen nothing”, which actually means “I did see something”.
“I don’t have no money”, which actually means “I do have money”.

Not every double negative is however an error, and may be expressed to convey sensitivity or diplomacy, such as: “I wouldn’t describe you as unintelligent”.

For further information: Double Negative: Explanation and Examples
Understanding Double Negatives (Rules + Examples) | GrammarBrain

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JUNE 2025

This month’s deeply meaningful quote resonates across a countless range of leadership scenarios. Prefixing ‘action’ with ‘the right’ would however make this even more acutely thought provoking (with credit and thanks to Jamie G for suggesting this). While there are countless situations where this impactful message applies, a critical scenario relates to UK and European defence. The Post Office and infected blood scandals are further examples of deeply significant leadership failings. Quote sourced from the following:
Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I’ve seen it first-hand

‘The time for action was yesterday.’
FIONA HILL

The above listed on: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Words associated with the leadership approach needed in attempts to redress yesterday’s wrongs:

Veracity – habitual truthfulness.

Expiation – atoning for/ redressing / make amends for

Sedulous – diligent, persevering, or assiduous in application or attention.
(from Latin sēdulus, meaning without guile.)

Commitment – the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – MAY 2025

The first of this month’s quotes (published in 2018) encapsulates issues relating to a new political era of American power and ruthlessness. The potentially disastrous outcome of the current political scenario is a damaging global trade war. And while the term ‘interdependence’ is not specifically referenced, its necessity is summarised in the second quote’s emphasis on the critical need for interaction and collaboration between people and states.

‘Democracy cannot survive its current downward drift into tribalism, extremism and seething resentment. Today it’s “us versus them” in America. Politics is little more than blood sport. As a result our willingness to believe the worst about everyone outside our own bubble is growing and our ability to solve problems and seize opportunities is shrinking.’
BILL CLINTON & JAMES PATTERSON

‘What will emerge eventually is a new set of rules, The idea that we are moving towards a non-rules based system is a nonsense. States and people have to interact.’
PHILLIPE SANDS

Both quotes listed via: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Words that encapsulate ruthlessly destructive leadership traits:

Bigotry – obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction/ intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own.

Foment – to stir up conflict/to incite or cause troublesome acts.

Peremptory – insisting on immediate attention or obedience

Vengeful – seeking harm in return for a perceived injury.

Vituperative – full of angry criticism or abuse

Warmest & best wishes