Emotional and Inter-Cultural Intelligence
Dr. Gustav Gous is a Namibian born International Speaker and trainer. He is the Managing Director of a company which specialises in creating Inter-Cultural Intelligence in organisations. Recently back in Namibia to speak at the Professional Speakers Association of Namibia’s Summer Conference, 99FM’s MYD Smart spoke to Gustav about some of his areas of expertise; emotional intelligence at the workplace and inter-cultural intelligence.
“Emotional intelligence is probably the most important thing to master because it’s mastering your inner energy.”
“Emotions are like wild horses, and most people do not have control of their emotions, their emotions have control of them and this makes them do irresponsible things.” Says Gustav when explaining why emotional intelligence is a key tool not only for business, but also in life.
“Emotional intelligence is probably the most important thing to master because it’s mastering your inner energy. Are you riding the horse or has the horse thrown you? We need to learn to hold our horses when needed, this is self-regulation. We also need to learn to let them run when we need them to, this is self-motivation.”
“What they don’t realise is that, the best decisions are not made using rational thinking alone.”
However, despite the vast evidence that supports the need to master your emotions as a business tool, Gustav notes that often in business, the concept of emotions is met with resistance. “When I was the in-house counsellor for Sasol, the petrochemical company, many of the engineers came to me and said, but what is this emotions thing? What they don’t realise is that, the best decisions are not made using rational thinking alone. The combination of straight thinking and being able to be in charge of your emotions, the passion of emotions, will drive you much further than just rationale thinking.”
“In life you often get two types of people; ones that give ulcers, because they let their emotions run wild, and those that get ulcers, because they suppress their emotions. This is often the reason behind many of their psychosomatic illnesses. I always say that you must befriend your emotions, get your emotions to work for you. Your emotions are your energy.”
“Intercultural intelligence is the ability to deal with differences and make something out of these differences. All business relationships, all personal relationships, are diversity relationships.”
One of his most well known areas of expertise is on the power of diversity and how to harness this power to build strong working teams. He explains, “Intercultural intelligence is the ability to deal with differences and make something out of these differences. All business relationships, all personal relationships, are diversity relationships. Be it between different personalities; different sexes; different races; different ages etc. Diversity is something we find in all inter-relating.”
“My question is why do some get it right and others don’t? Some teams gel well, some marriages work really well. What they have that others don’t is diversity intelligence.”
“Using more sophisticated tools helps us to create deep connection, great intimacy in personal relationships and great results in business teams.”
“Diversity intelligence is about attitude, ability and action. We need to change our attitudes from cultural critics to cultural learners. Only then are we able to use the tools of diversity and take our relationships to the next level. I often say that if you only have a hammer in your toolbox, you will just nail everybody that differs from you. Using more sophisticated tools helps us to create deep connection, great intimacy in personal relationships and great results in business teams.”
Get in touch with Gustav Gous via his website by clicking here