Quote EQ4U UPDATE – NOVEMBER 2024

Quotes for November underline the challenge of democratic dilemmas and the ongoing dichotomy between human competence and wisdom:

‘Our democracy cannot survive its current downward drift into tribalism, extremism and seething resentment.’
BILL CLINTON & JAMES PATTERSON

‘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

Ref: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Opposites of first quote’s negative terms:

• Cosmopolitanism (versus tribalism)
• Moderation (versus extremism)
• Goodwill (versus resentment)

A word (a personal favourite) that encompasses an attribute needed to address theme of 2nd quote:

Sagacity – the quality of having understanding and the ability to make good judgments

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – OCTOBER 2024

October’s theme reflects political profligacy with contemplative quotes for taking a more sagacious approach:

‘The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.’
JOHN F KENNEDY
LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

‘Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.’
CHARLES DICKENS
WELL-BEING – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

One word examples of opposite terms:

Encomium (high praise)
versus
hypercriticism (carping or unduly harsh condemnation)

Meliorism (the belief that the world can be made better by human effort)
versus
Misanthropy (disbelief in the goodness of humankind)

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2024

September’s theme is the influence of emotions on decision making, encapsulated in the following:

‘99% of our decisions – including the most important life choices concerning spouses, careers and habitats – are made by the highly effective algorithms we call sensations, emotions and desires.’
YUVAL NOAH HARARI

‘In a normal business discussion, you are not supposed to allow your emotions to enter in. They enter in anyway – you merely disguise them as logic.’
EDWARD DE BONO

Weblink: MANAGING EMOTIONS – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Regretful – regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant. A simple way of making the distinction is that when you regret something you have done you are regretful: He gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully. In contrast, when you are sorry about an occurrence you did not yourself cause, you view the incident as regrettable: this is a regrettable (not regretful) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully, i.e. because of circumstances beyond my control) I shall be unable to attend.

Reference: Collins Thesaurus A-Z, HarperCollins Publishers, page 843

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – AUGUST 2024

August’s leadership theme highlighting the difference between leadership and management is encapsulated in this month’s quote:

‘Leadership is of the spirit, compounded of personality and vision – its practice is an art. Management is of the mind, more a matter of accurate calculation of statistics, of methods, timetables and routines – its practice is a science. Managers are necessary – Leaders are essential.’
FIELD MARSHALL LORD SLIM

Weblink: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

The following attributes are sequential for emotionally intelligent leadership:
• Attentiveness – playing close attention by listening closely and being observant
• Perspicacity – being acutely perceptive or discerning
• Sagacity – having wisdom in understanding and making judgements

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JULY 2024

The imminent UK general election prompts quotes with continued focus on political leadership and character. Critical personal messages for those seeking power are encompassed in the following:
 

‘Character defines the person – it answers the question as to whether this is someone to emulate and with what enthusiasm. Integrity establishes the moral baseline to lead.’
GENERAL SIR RICHARD DANNETT
 
‘Nearly everyone can stand adversity, but if you want to test a person’s character, give them power.’
ABRAHAM LINCOLNWeblink: CHARACTER – EQ4U
(The Abraham Lincoln quote has been degendered to reflect inclusivity)
 
GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
 
An apt and inspiring concept word for all humanity:
 
Meliorism – the notion that the world can be improved by human effort.
 
And a word that reflects potential effectiveness or otherwise of election manifesto promises:
 
Meretricious – apparently attractive but having no value.

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JUNE 2024

The UK general election on 4^th July and its surrounding panoply of promises, condemnations and cajoling rhetoric prompts this month’s focus on the importance of effective political leadership – critical in its influence on national prosperity and well-being. The first quote by a Roman philosopher and statesman (106-43 BCE), and the second by a Pulitzer-Prize winning author:

‘The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public dept should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled.’

CICERO

‘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

Weblink: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

*This month’s 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 following clarifies the use of (sic) and is from the section ‘Brackets Add Clarity, Show Errors’ section of Kathy’s book – pages 84/85.

If original material contains an error – a misspelled word would be an example – use brackets around the Latin term sic to indicate that’s how it was originally expressed. Translated, sic means “so, thus, in this manner.”

Kathy’s example: If you think the dog looks funny chasing it’s (sic) tail, you should see the cat trying to jump into a paper bag. (it’s should be its)

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – MAY 2024

While perhaps not a predictable wellbeing citation with its emphasis on having life purpose, the following quote from an Austrian born, American author, scientist and activist encapsulates deeply reflective life contemplations:

‘This is the true joy in life – working for a mighty purpose; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrapheap; being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.’
FRIJOF CAPRA
Weblink: WELL-BEING – EQ4U

*GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

*This month’s 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 following correct words are referenced in Kathy’s book on pages 141/142:

Which is correct?

1. Facebook has some concerning content / Facebook has some disconcerting content
2. My boss is taking Jim and I to lunch / My boss is taking Jim and me to lunch
3. I wish I was on the Florida beach / I wish I were on the Florida beach
   Answers:
4. Facebook has some disconcerting content. (Disconcerting–troubling, disturbing, unsettling)
5. My boss is taking Jim and me to lunch
6. I wish I were on a Florida beach

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2024

Both giving and receiving feedback effectively are key communication attributes for leaders and others. This month’s theme is giving feedback – a communication that seems to be frequently avoided, inappropriate, fudged or mishandled. Its relevance and value effectively exemplified in the following quote included in ‘Hidden Potential – The Science of Achieving Greater Things.’

‘Being polite is withholding feedback to make someone feel good today. Being kind is being candid about how they can get better tomorrow.’
ADAM GRANT
Weblink: LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT – EQ4U

And below, main headings on giving feedback from ’EQ Checklists’:

1. CONSIDER YOUR INTENTION – Ensure purpose is to be helpful and supportive.
2. ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND EMOTIONS – Be aware of own and others’ feelings.
3. LISTEN MINDFULLY – Acknowledge and respect others’ differences and rights.
4. BE SPECIFIC – Identify feedback topic and describe point clearly.
5. BE OBJECTIVE – Focus on facts and make an informed, evidence-based judgement.
6. CONCENTRATE ON BEHAVIOUR – Avoid personality judgements.
7. SEPARATE DESCRIPTION FROM EVALUATION – Distinguish between facts and opinions and convey impact.
8. GIVE PRAISE EFFECTIVELY – Share observations that merit recognition.
9. USE TO INFORM – NOT TO ADVISE – If appropriate, offer suggestions as to what might be done differently.
10. USE APPROPRIATE BODY LANGUAGE – Ensure a match between words and body language.

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Many thanks to Anna T for suggesting the following word:
• Aptronym – a person’s name that matches their job or one of their main characteristics – a nominative determinism.
Examples: Weather presenter – Sarah Blizzard, Sprinter – Usain Bolt, Surgeon – Professor Kneebone, Poet – William Wordsworth, Tennis Player – Margaret Court, plus General Practitioner – Dr Pain (referenced by Anna)

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – DECEMBER 2023

Timely Christmas spirit reminder quotes for us all of the human values of compassion and caring towards others:

‘In separateness lies the world’s great misery, in compassion lies the world’s true strength.’
BUDDHA
Weblink: PHILOSOPHY – EQ4U

‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’
GHANDI
Weblink: WELL-BEING – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

A contronym (or contranym) is a word that has two contradictory or opposite meanings – with thanks to friend Carol in US for message about this. Examples:
• Sanction – to approve or to penalize
• Weather – to withstand or to wear away
• Left – remaining or departed

A reminder too of the difference in meaning between ‘Can I?’ and ‘May I? – A lesson that was drummed into me in long ago schooldays!

‘Can I?’ means ‘Am I able?’ and ‘May I? is about asking permission. The former seems to be frequently used, both in speaking and writing, when the latter is more appropriate. A classic example: ‘Can I sit here?’ when enquiring if a seat is available, rather than ‘May I sit here?’. More examples can be found on:
Bing Chat with GPT-4

Warmest & best wishes for a happy and peaceful Christmas

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JANUARY 2024

The ‘kindness, friendship, courage and hope’ sentiments for New Year 2024 are encapsulated in Charlie Mackesy’s story: ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’. Its most recent broadcast (lasting 30mins) was on BBC1 on Christmas Day 2023. It you haven’t seen it before, I hope you find it moving and meaningful, and if you have, it’s a thoughtful reminder.
Link: BBC iPlayer – The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.

‘The greatest illusion,’ said the mole, ‘is that life should be perfect. Always remember you matter, you’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can.’
CHARLIE MACKESY
Weblink: WELL-BEING – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Associated words for New Year 2024 sentiments:
• Sentient – having the power of perception (from Latin word sentire – to perceive)
• Solicitous – showing consideration and concern for others.
• Intrepidity – fearless, daring, bold.
• Sanguine – optimistic.

Warmest & best wishes