The Leadership Institute had their second “Cookies and Learning” seminar of the winter quarter on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The name and subject of this seminar was “Emotional Intelligence,” and was held in room C211 from 1:30-2:20 p.m. As with the last seminar, this was hosted by Skip Sampelayo, a Bellevue College instructor and Student Programs adviser. Sampelayo said that emotional intelligence is an interesting topic, and that one with which he has had years of experience.
Sampelayo was formerly an IT executive at Boeing and said that emotional intelligence is important for community leaders, not just those in a professional or organizational setting.
Emotional Intelligence is also called EQ, and Sampelayo said it is a better predictor of career advancement than IQ alone. Although EQ is not defined by rigid facts and data, Sampelayo explained that high EQ is a more useful measurement and assessment of potential success. He then explained how to develop EQ.
“Leaders look to improve,” Samepelayo said.
Sampelayo named five key components of emotional intelligence that work individually and together to improve EQ. These abilities are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management and team leadership. Sampelayo described these components one by one, and explaining how improving emotional intelligence begins with the individual, but progressing to a larger scale of leadership helps build the skills and traits required for high EQ.
Sampelayo listed several characteristics of highly emotionally intelligent individuals, such as trustworthiness, honesty, integrity and empathy. He said that emotionally intelligent leaders are in touch with their values, they are able to take responsibility for their mistakes as well as acknowledge the contributions of others. Sampelayo described emotionally intelligent, effective leadership as “steward leadership.”
Roger Ewald, a media engineer at BC, attended the meeting and shared his ideas about being an effective leader. “Empower those working under you.”
Christian Valencia, a BC student in his second quarter, also participated by asking Sampelayo questions, such as how he can practice exercising EQ while staying cautious about individuals he wasn’t too familiar with. Sampelayo said that the principles “trust first, fear later” and “assume good intentions” can help alleviate worry, but that in the end trial and error improve EQ.
Sampelayo mentioned the Leadership class and said it is a unique opportunity for students at Bellevue College. There are new topics introduced weekly, such as Environmental Leadership. Also, there are weekly volunteers who speak on the subject of leadership to the students. It is a two credit Human Development course funded by a work grant and free of charge to students who want to sign up. The next Leadership class, HD 211 “Leadership Today: Building Tools for Tomorrow” will be open to enrollment for interested students who plan to attend BC in the spring quarter.
Also coming soon from the Leadership Institute is the next Cookies and Learning seminar, “Communication Techniques for Leaders.” It will be on Thursday March 10, and will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and is open to the public.