So right and yet so wrong - twice

THE EDITOR: How well we understand and express ourselves, understand others and relate with them, particularly in terms of empathy, are considered by researchers in the field of organisational leadership as being critical limiting factors in determining leadership capacity and the potential for success.

Two recent events locally illustrate how emotional intelligence or the lack thereof is critical to leadership, especially in terms of providing direction, hope and inspiration.

The first is associated with the flooding in Trinidad during the Divali celebrations. During this unfortunate circumstance the former deputy director of the Office for Disaster Preparedness and Management was reported as stating that the flooding was a “small thing” when questioned about his response to the situation.

We all know that the deluge from the heavens could not quench the firestorm of public sentiment that followed his comment and he was forced to resign.

The sad part of this situation is that in strict technical terms the former deputy director was correct. While there is no international scale of measurement for the severity of flooding, unlike the case for hurricanes and earthquakes, there are some acceptable measurement scales that can be applied in terms of disaster response.

If any of these were to be applied to that flood event on Divali day 2017, the severity would not have been sufficient to trigger a national-level emergency disaster response at the time the deputy director made his statement.

How then do you tell an individual whose home has been flooded out that his or her problem is minor on a national scale? You don’t. This is where emotional intelligence should kick in and temper any response with a display of sympathy and support.

The second and more recent event was the answer of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Secretary for Sport when asked at the recent THA plenary sitting about its response to the state of disrepair of the Dwight York Stadium. His simple answer was “none.” This, for obvious reasons, has led to widespread criticism including comments from Yorke himself.

Again, in strict technical terms, the secretary was right in that the question was framed to require a yes or no answer and also the THA has no direct responsibility for the management of the stadium.

However, such an answer from the person who is supposed to be leading sport development in Tobago is unacceptable. No display of care and concern. No expression of hope. Just “none.” The goodly secretary then expresses his surprise at the “firestorm” of criticism that has followed. What did he expect?

There are differing schools of thought on whether emotional intelligence can be learned but there are ways in which it can be measured (emotional quotient). The two events as discussed should be lessons to those who seek to lead us so as to examine their own emotional intelligence and take the corrective measures where necessary, if it is at all possible.

KAMAU AKILI, Mason Hall