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

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – APRIL 2025

April quotes highlight problems of insidious corrupting influences referenced in Matthew Syed’s feature, page 21, 19^th January, Sunday Times. TikTok security risks (the online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance) and rapprochement with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) noted in particular. Special attention included to inducements and their capacity to influence judgements and interconnected corporate and political policy decisions. The second quote adapted to be non-gender specific.  

‘Corruption, in foreign policy as in so many other areas, is not a symptom of our problems. Corruption is the problem.’

MATTHEW SYED

‘It is difficult to get a someone to understand something when their salary depends on not understanding it.’

UPTON SINCLAIR

LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Words that sound similar but have disparate meanings:

Proscribe – to forbid something as harmful or unlawful

versus

Prescribe – to dictate a rule for others to follow

Allude – to reference something indirectly

versus

Elude – to avoid or escape someone or something

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – MARCH 2025

With the international scenario of Ukraine/Russia negotiations in mind, this month’s quote emphasises the challenge of EQ engagement for both self and others:

‘We cannot stop having emotions any more than we can stop having thoughts. The challenge is learning to stimulate helpful emotions in those with whom we negotiate – and in ourselves.’ 

ROGER FISHER & DANIEL SHAPIRO

MANAGING EMOTIONS – EQ4U

The following is extracted from ‘EQ Checklists’ page 147:

Successful negotiation means agreeing a solution where both parties feel content that there has been a fair balance between what they and the other party have achieved and conceded and feel satisfied with the outcome. Any situation where one of the parties feels that the outcome has resulted in an uneven balance and that he or she has been taken advantage of, is however likely to invoke feelings of resentment and possibly thoughts of retribution in future dealings. So thinking about emotional impact by considering your own and others’ feelings at every stage of the negotiation process and dealing with these appropriately means that you are more likely not only to achieve an outcome that is acceptable to both parties, but that you are more likely to have more productive future transactions.

Links to the section on Negotiation plus main headings and key points below:

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES 

Words associated with principled negotiation/achieving equitable outcomes include:

Conciliate​- to overcome the hostility of/placate/win over/win or gain favour – from Latin conciliare – to bring together /reconcile.

Profundity ​- great depth of insight or knowledge/intensity of a state, quality, or emotion /a statement or idea that shows great knowledge or insight.

Rapprochement​- an establishment or resumption of harmonious/ cordialrelationship between individuals or groups – especially relating to international affairs.

Sedulous ​- showing dedication and diligence.

Expiation​​- atoning /redressing / make amends for.

And words associated with unprincipled negotiation where outcomes are inequitable, including those on the international political stage that have potential for global impact:

Hegemony ​– leadership or dominance , especially by one state or group over others/ being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others/ preponderant influence or authority.

Solipsistic ​​– very self-centred or selfish/ extreme egocentricity

Xenophobia ​– dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries

Rambunctious ​– uncontrollably exuberant, boisterous behaviour.

Ultracrepidate ​– criticize beyond one’s sphere of knowledge/competence purview.

Warmest & best wishes

Quote EQ4U UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2025

This month’s theme is the problem of corruption, defined as ‘illegal, bad or dishonest behaviour, especially by people in positions of power’. February quotations reference corruption relating to political policies, politicians, and the influence of financial business inducements on benefactors. The following are extracted from Matthew Syed’s feature, page 21 of the Sunday Times, 19th January 2025: ‘The TikTok saga neatly embodies 40 years of being duped by China – There is one reason Trump has reversed his stance on the app: self-interest. This is how we’ve been corrupted’.

‘It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.’
UPTON SINCLAIR

‘Corruption in foreign policy as in so many areas, is not a symptom of our problems. Corruption is the problem.’
MATTHEW SYED

LEADERSHIP – EQ4U

GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES

Terms relating to corruption/reprobative behaviour:

• Malfeasance – wrongful or illegal act, especially by a public official
• Egregious – outstandingly bad / shocking, obviously wrong beyond any reasonable degree
• Pernicious – wicked or malicious/ causing grave harm
• Seditious – inciting rebellion
• Traduce – speak badly of or tell lies to damage reputation
• Opprobrium – public disgrace because of bad behaviour

Warmest & best wishes

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