Top 3 Things That Make a Leader

Hey Full Potential Zoners!

Brains won’t keep you standing.

IQ gets you in the room.

EQ builds trust in the room.

AQ keeps you standing when the room’s on fire.

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Each strength fills a gap the others can’t.

IQ solves.

EQ connects.

AQ endures.

Mastery is balancing mind, heart, and grit.

Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:

‘IQ vs EQ vs AQ - Master All 3 to Lead Well'. 

Let’s dive in!

Real-World Scenarios On How to Use IQ, EQ, and AQ

1. Leading a Team Through a Layoff

Scenario: You’re a manager told to announce layoffs to your team.

• Use IQ to carefully review the data:

  • Who’s impacted, why, and what happens next.

  • You need clear, accurate facts before talking to anyone.

• Use EQ when delivering the news:

  • Make eye contact, speak with care, and be fully present when people react.

  • Don’t just drop the message and disappear.

• Use AQ to stay steady afterward:

  • Emotions will run high.

  • You’ll need to keep leading, helping people adjust, and making decisions while the ground shifts.

• Don’t try to fix how others feel. Just listen and be steady. That’s what people remember.

2. Fixing a Project That’s Falling Apart

Scenario: Your team missed a deadline and everyone’s blaming each other.

• Use IQ to break down what went wrong:

  • Was it poor planning, unclear roles, bad estimates?

  • Get specific, not emotional.

• Use EQ to listen before reacting:

  • Say, “Walk me through your part of the process.”

  • Ask, “What do you need to do better next time?”

• Use AQ to move from blame to recovery:

  • Say, “Let’s fix it fast, not perfectly. Here’s what we’re going to try this week.”

• Focus on what to do next, not who to punish.

3. Giving Feedback to a Defensive Coworker

Scenario: Someone on your team keeps messing up but doesn’t take feedback well.

• Use IQ to prep exact examples:

  • Say, “On Tuesday’s call, the client was confused because of…” Don’t be vague or emotional.

• Use EQ to keep them open:

  • Start with, “Can I share something I’ve noticed that could help us both?”

  • That softens the wall.

• Use AQ to keep showing up:

  • If they stay defensive, don’t quit.

  • Give them space, and try again another time in a different way.

• Don’t try to be liked. Aim to be clear, fair, and consistent.

4. Getting Passed Over for a Promotion

Scenario: You didn’t get the job you wanted. Someone else did.

• Use IQ to ask for real feedback:

  • Say, “Can you help me understand what skills or results I was missing?”

  • Write it down.

• Use EQ to respond well:

  • Don’t go quiet or get cold.

  • Say, “Thanks for the honesty. I’d still like to grow here.”

• Use AQ to turn it into fuel:

  • Make a plan.

  • Tell your manager: “Here’s what I’m working on so I’m ready next time.”

• Show you’re not crushed—you’re focused. That alone makes you stand out.

Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:

Day 1: Identify Your Focus Area

• Reflect on your recent work experiences and choose one area—IQ (problem-solving), EQ (handling emotions), or AQ (adapting to change)—that you want to improve.

• Write down a specific situation where you felt challenged in this area.

• For example, perhaps you struggled to stay calm during a stressful meeting (EQ) or found it hard to adapt to a sudden change in project scope (AQ).

• AI Prompt to use: “You are a performance coach. Help me reflect on a recent work situation where I struggled with either IQ, EQ, or AQ. Ask me the right questions to figure out which one I need to work on most and why it matters.”

Day 2: Observe and Reflect

• Throughout your workday, pay close attention to moments related to your chosen area.

• At the end of the day, jot down observations:

  • What happened?

  • How did you respond?

  • What were the outcomes?

• This reflection will help you become more aware of your patterns and areas for growth.

• AI Prompt: “You are an expert in personal growth. Today I watched myself in real time trying to improve my [IQ/EQ/AQ]. I’ll tell you what happened. Help me break it down. [Explain the situation]. What did I do well? What could I do better tomorrow?”

Day 3: Implement a Small Change

• Based on your reflections, identify one small change you can make to improve in your chosen area.

• For instance, if you're focusing on EQ and noticed you often interrupt others, make a conscious effort to listen fully before responding.

• If AQ is your focus and you resist last-minute changes, try to approach them with curiosity rather than frustration.

• AI Prompt: “You are a workplace behavior expert. I’ve learned [insert what you’ve learned] about me. Based on what I’ve learned about myself so far, give me one simple, real-world change I can make today to get better at [IQ/EQ/AQ]. Keep it short and easy to apply at work right now.”

Day 4: Review and Plan Ahead

• Evaluate the impact of the change you implemented.

• Ask yourself:

  • Did this change make a positive difference?

  • What did I learn?

  • How can I continue to develop in this area?

• Based on your insights, set a simple goal for the next week to continue your progress.

• AI Prompt: “You are a career coach. I’ve spent the last 3 days working on [IQ/EQ/AQ]. I’ll share what I did and how it felt. Help me reflect and give me one clear next step to keep growing in this area next week. [Explain what you’ve done so far].”

You can learn to think sharper.

You can learn to handle stress better.

You can learn to deal with people in ways that actually work.

It’s not about changing who you are—it’s about using more of what you already have.

IQ, EQ, and AQ are all parts of the same story: you getting stronger.

The best leaders don’t choose—they grow all three.

Until next time and with lots of love,

Justin

60 Second Video of Today’s Topic

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This Week’s Growth Recommendations

Book To Read:  

“Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” by Daniel Goleman (see it here)

TED Talk to Watch

“3 Ways to Measure Your Adaptability — and How to Improve It" by Natalie Fratto​ (see it here)

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