Quote EQ4U UPDATE – JANUARY 2025

The first quote for New Year 2025 honours the courage of Gisele Pelicot whose insistence on publicity for the rape case brought against her husband Domenique plus the other 51 men who were convicted, prompted her demand for  transference of shame to perpetrators. Nadia Murad, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner’s assertion ‘I don’t want people to see me as a victim’ upholds the need for this change. The second quote reinforces the principle of maintaining resilience and self-esteem in the face of degradation from others.

‘Shame must change sides’

GISELE PELICOT

PHILOSOPHY – EQ4U

‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

MANAGING EMOTIONS – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Terms that express contrasting aspects of gender bias – both relate to approaches and behaviours contradictory to emotional intelligence/EQ:  

Misogyny – a commonly referenced term meaning hatred or disdain towards women

Misandry  – a less frequently referenced term meaning hatred or disdain towards men.

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – DECEMBER 2024

‘The power of emotions is ignored or underestimated at our peril, not only by political leaders, but by those in any context who misuse their influence over others.’
JAN CHILDS
Ref: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

The above quote for this month which emphasises the influence of emotional impact is included in narrative I originally wrote for ‘EQ & Political Leadership’, a book which was due to be released earlier this year which for various reasons has not been published. Contributors with in-depth knowledge and experience of the world of political leadership whose interview write-ups form the book’s primary content have however generously agreed to their publication on the EQ4U website. The time and thought they gave to sharing revealing experiences and perceptions of political leadership, teamwork and culture was much appreciated. My thanks also to former MP, Daniel Kawczynski for introductions which enabled me to write the book.  

Both national and international contributors are included, all of whom provide enlightening learning and insights. Core interview questions included: admired leaders; emotional impact on decision making: political establishment culture; views on interdependence; advice to younger self. I hope you find their interview reports an engaging and informative leadership learning resource.

For preface including profiles of interviewees plus links to interview write-ups:      https://eq4u.co.uk/resources/books/eq-and-political-leadership/
 
GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
 
Descriptive words with contrasting meanings relating to political leadership follow. The first, a word coined as early as the seventeenth century – with thanks to friend Karen for referencing this.
 
Kakistocracy  – government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.
 – and its opposite:
Meritocracy – government or the holding of power by people selected according to merit. judgments

Warmest & best wishes

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 – APRIL 2024

This month’s theme of striving for excellence is encapsulated in the following:
 

‘The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low, and we reach it.’
MICHELANGELO
‘Relaxed concentration is the key to excellence in all things.’
TIMOTHY GALLWEY

 
Weblink: LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT – EQ4U
          
GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
 
Words with similar spellings but with different meanings:

• Propinquity – formal nearness in place or time
• Propitiate/propitious – win/gain favour of / favourably inclined.
• Perspicacious – quickly gaining insight into things – (verb perspicacity)
• Perspicuous – expressing things clearly – (noun perspicuity)

Warmest & best wishes