Photo by Jessica Lloyd
Four faculty members at California Baptist University spoke about four measures of leadership aptitude during the latest installment of the university’s leadership series on Feb. 9 at the The Wallace Book of Life Theatre.
The quotient topics of the four measures of leadership aptitude included an intelligence quotient, an emotional quotient, a social and political quotient and the impact of virtuous leadership.
Dr. John Shoup, dean of CBU’s School of Education, began the event as one of the four speakers and gave his opinion of what he said was the crisis of low standard leadership in today’s society. Shoup said a high percentage of corporate leaders lack confidence and preparedness.
“A lot of people go to school to develop the technical skills for their career,” Shoup said. “This will teach people how to think like a leader, handle conflict, build teams and navigate social and political capital.”
Shoup expressed the importance of determination and social ability. His topic also included how to be considered a credible leader. Shoup said the image of a leader is typically viewed by a person in one of three different ways such as performance, navigation and nurturing.
John Montgomery, dean of Spiritual Life, spoke on the emotional quotient of a leader. He said the smartest person in the room is not always the best leader, and those with a healthy EIO, or emotional intelligence quotient, are the leaders that are going to be most effective.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Montgomery said.
Dr. Chris McHorney, chair of the History and Government Department and professor of political science, voiced his knowledge about the principles of social and political quotients and explained that being a leader means to engage in and build community, as well as empower and include those in the community.
“In order to figure out how to solve problems, you actually have to get out of your office and get out of your comfort zone and go meet with people; meet with the people you want to help,” McHorney said. “Find out what their problems are, but also find out what they have to offer. Just because they may not have the wealth that we have, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have skills and talents that God has given them to address the very problems that they are trying to deal with.”
Dr. Scott B. Key, professor of philosophy, gave his viewpoints on virtue and leadership. Key said the world is changing, but the idea of virtue stays the same, and it is through virtue that leadership grows.
“It’s really interesting to hear more from the business side,” said Emily Key, high school student and daughter of speaker Scott Key. “My dad’s a philosopher, so I hear it from that side, but not so much from the business side.”
Tamara Bowles, senior nursing major, said she attended the seminar shortly after ending her leadership class.
“(I hope to) obtain the tools to become a better leader, especially in my profession,” Bowles said. “I hope to be a leader on the floor and just in my overall career.”
Zach Long, sophomore graphic design major, said he wanted to be at the event because he had a resident adviser interview on Feb. 10.
“(Being a RA) is one of the most important leadership positions at CBU because we’ll be leading the students,” Long said. “It will be a great way from me to look back at (my notes) and kind of learn how to be the best leader possible, not only if I get that position as an RA but for any position I end up getting in the future. It will help me understand how to be a leader and be seen as a person of leadership so that (I can be) more easily chosen for those types of positions.”
