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 […]

April quotes highlight problems of insidious corrupting influences referenced in Matthew Syed’s feature, page 21, 19th 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

‘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 CHILDSRef: LEADERSHIP – EQ4U The above quote for this month which emphasises the influence of emotional impact is included in narrative I originally wrote for ‘EQ & […]

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, […]

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 KENNEDYLEADERSHIP – 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 DICKENSWELL-BEING […]

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 […]

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 […]