Managers that have a combination of healthy emotions and sociable state of mind can enhance business decision making and promote teamwork by developing creative thinking that ultimately leads to higher organizational productivities and efficiencies, said a human resource development (HRD) expert. Dr. Hussein El-Kazzaz, Managing Director of SKOPOS Consulting Group, a provider of customized Organizational Development (OD) solutions to companies in the Middle East and Africa, recommends a MIND S.E.T. approach to tapping multiple skills to achieve a more holistic approach to management. Dr. Kazzaz – who has extensive consulting and training experience in the private and public sector on issues of performance improvement, performance-based planning and monitoring systems, organizational design and strategic management – said MIND S.E.T. stands for Mind Social Emotional and Technical Intelligence. It is defined by the formula SI (Social Intelligence) + EI (Emotional Intelligence) + TI (Technical Intelligence) = MIND S.E.T. = Manager with leadership skills. The term ‘Mind' in this context refers to an awareness of the world and the process of feeling and thinking. The use of the acronym S.E.T., on the other hand, refers to the grouping of ideas and attitudes involved in an individual's reaction to a situation. Dr. Kazzaz, who holds a doctorate in Business Administration from the Ohio State University, explained that Emotional Intelligence (EI) indicates an individual's confidence in his or her own efforts and abilities, while Social Intelligence (SI) bridges individual success and group success. By improving EI and SI levels throughout their organizations, leaders can enhance their skills in seven key management areas, namely: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, Social Skills, Good Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making, Dr. Kazzaz added. The evolving business environment in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere requires managers to have a MIND S.E.T. that can handle all kinds of situations and experiences, he said. “It is important to note that MIND S.E.T. is not a unique intelligence but is rather a collection of tools which can be used separately or complimentary, depending on the situation.” Dr. Kazzaz noted that, as per conventional wisdom, success in the workplace can be achieved simply by hiring people with advanced technical skills. However, he argues that recent research disproves this popular belief, with results indicating that technical ability actually accounts for only 20 percent or just a small part of success at work. “Statistical evidence shows that 80 percent of efficient workplace productivity is influenced more by sound Emotional Intelligence – the ability to identify, assess, and control various emotions,” he said. Multiple intelligences Most corporations perceive the emotional and social elements of the work environment as disruptive and often try to set them aside in favor of technical abilities, Dr. Kazzaz remarked. However, developmental psychologist Howard Gardner has been advocating the “Theory of Multiple Intelligence”, a concept he developed in the 1980s as a better gauge for workplace competence. According to Gardner, that intelligence can be categorized as Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Musical, Bodily-kinesthetic, Spatial, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal, each independent of the other. Emotional and Social Intelligence in particular can be partnered with Technical Intelligence to boost productivity and be channeled by managers to enhance the way they lead, mentor and coach, he said. “There are numerous cases of technically astute managers who underestimate the social and emotional factors affecting their organizations and even themselves. Awareness of the underlying social and emotional dynamics of a company and its key personnel is just as important as the technical competencies possessed by teams and individuals,” Dr. Kazzaz stated. Initially founded in 1991 in San Jose, SKOPOS Consulting moved to establish its Middle East presence in 2002. It is now fully owned, managed and operated independently by the Middle East team. It currently offers its services across a range of industries, including technology, government and telecommunications. The company has offices in Dubai, Cairo and Bahrain. As an OD practitioner, Dr. El-Kazzaz has designed and presented programs in areas of leadership and group dynamics, implementation of continuous improvement, strategic management and managing workplace relations.
