Suggests the role of "Leader" is evolving into a less directive role and into more of a "design" role and considers how emotional intelligence supports this shift in focus.

1. Reframing Leadership:The Leader as
Performance Architect and
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in
Connecting to Performers and
Creating an Effective Performance
Environment
Gary F. Best, Ph.D.
Executive & Leadership Coach /
Performance Strategist
Created by PerformanceBest, LLC

2. Two Caveats:
My position on leaders and leadership…..
A role or title is not what makes a leader…
My position on this thing we call “organizations”…..
They’re mislabeled.We should be talking
about organizings….not organizations.
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3. Evolving Performance Environments
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4. Elements of Performance Environments
 Performers
Tools andTechnologies
 Governance & Rules
 Communication Flows
 Informal Networks
 Cultures & Climates
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5. Dynamics inTodays Performance Environments
 Speed is everything – “Done is better than perfect!”
 Change is relentless!
 Informal networks rule!
 Four generations in the same place
 Workplace disruption: New designs,
technologies….work from anywhere
 Work is becoming project based / driven
 Freelancers and independent workers are growing
dramatically
 Workers are becoming mission / purpose focused
 Work is becoming team centered
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So what’s a leader to do??

6. Leader as Performance Architect
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7. Focus of a Performance Architect…
Designs the performance
environment
 …with the clear goal of
enabling performers to
achieve maximum success in
their performance
Created by PerformanceBest, LLC

8. To be Effective, a Performance Architect
Must Understand ….
 the performance environment
 the attributes of the
performers in the environment
 the tools and technologies
required by the performer for
success, and
 that they are also performers
and share the same macro level
attributes
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9. And Secondly, a Performance Architect Must ….
Execute (co-implement, co-
manage and co-adjust) their
design to maximize the
opportunity for performer
success in the performance
environment
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10. Macro Attributes of Performers
Mindsets
Fixed
Growth
 Capability and Capacity
 Technical
 Interpersonal
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11. Capability and Capacity of Performers
 Technical skill level
 Underdeveloped
 Developing
 Highly Developed
 Capacity
 Low—missing key elements for successful performance
 Medium—has a majority of the elements, but needs
focused development
 High—has all the elements necessary for performance
success
 Approach / Engagement
 Unfocused / Compliant / Disengaged
 Focused / Interested / Moderate Engagement
 Highly focused / Committed / Fully Engaged
 Demographic (Generational) Preferences
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12. Created by PerformanceBest, LLC
Performance Architects Use Emotional
Intelligence to Connect with and Understand
Performers

13. The Basics: Definitions,
Physiology and Behavioral
Competencies of Emotional
Intelligence
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14. An Emotion is….
…A physiological response to
some stimulus from an
environment
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 The stimulus can come from the
physical, external environment or
from an interior environment—your
own mind and thoughts
 Emotions most often happen in
multiples….that is, you have
multiple emotions at the same time
 Because an emotion is a
physiological response…like your
heart pumping blood, it can not be
controlled
 However, an emotion can be
managed
 Emotions are contagious

15. A Feeling is….
The label that we give to
a specific emotion
 Being able to label an emotion as a feeling
is what allows you to manage the emotion
 The more accurately you can label an
emotion, the faster and more directly you
can manage the emotion
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16. The Anatomy of an Emotion
Thalamus
Pre-frontal cortex
Amygdala
Data is gathered through
the senses or imagery
Limbic System & Stomach
Fight / Flight / Appease Response
Visual cortex
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17. Candidates for Primary Emotions
Anger
Sadness
Fear
Enjoyment
Love
Surprise
Disgust
Shame
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18. Emotions and Emotional Intelligence
Emotions are neutral…..they’re neither positive or negative, good or
bad
Emotions are absolutely essential for effective decision making
Emotions can be motivational…..when managed, they enable us to
persist in the face of setbacks and channel our impulses to pursue our
goals
Emotions can be harmful when not managed…..demotivating and
paralyzing for us
 Emotions are necessary for effective learning
 Emotions have a significant influence on physical and mental health
Created by PerformanceBest, LLC

19. Dimensions and Competencies of Emotional Intelligence
Self-Awareness
 Emotional Self-awareness
Self Management
 Achievement Orientation
 Adaptability
 Emotional Self Control
 Positive Outlook
Social Awareness
 Empathy
 Organizational Awareness
Relationship
Management
 Conflict Management
 Coach and Mentor
 Influence
 Inspirational leadership
 Teamwork
Recognition Regulation
Personal Competence
SocialCompetence
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20. The Anatomy of an Emotional Hijacking….
The Rider and the Elephant
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 The Rider represents your pre-frontal cortex—
the brains “executive” function.You do your
heavy lift thinking in the pre-frontal cortex
 The Elephant represents your amygdala…an
ancient part of the brain that initiates your
fight, flight or appease response
 When a stimulus from the environment
(external or internal) happens, your amygdala
is activated…and when not managed, the
amygdala takes control and the pre-frontal
cortex essentially shuts down…..
 The upshot is that when you need clear, rational
thinking the most…you don’t have it! And
that’s a HUGE problem.Remember the Elephant and the Rider

21. The FINALTake-Away…
To be a highly effective architect of a performance environment and to
connect with the performers under your care you need to:
 understand the technical aspects of performance
design and plan the performance space to enable the performance
understand and “know” yourself and your performers …these are the
main drivers for how you design and plan the performance space and enable
performance!!
Created by PerformanceBest, LLC
Emotional Intelligence is the single most powerful tool you
have to make that connection!

22. Additional Questions
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23. Candidates for Primary Emotions
Fury, outrage, resentment,
wrath, exasperation,
indignation, vexation,
acrimony, animosity,
irritability, hostility, and at
the extreme, pathological
hatred and violence.
Grief, sorrow,
cheerlessness, gloom,
melancholy, self-pity,
loneliness, dejection,
despair, and when
pathological, severe
depression.
Anger Sadness Fear
Anxiety, apprehension,
nervousness, concern,
consternation, misgiving,
wariness, qualm, edginess,
dread, fright, terror: as a
psychopathology, phobias
and panic.
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24. Happiness, joy, relief,
contentment, bliss, delight,
amusement, pride, sensual
pleasure, thrill, rapture,
gratification, satisfaction,
euphoria,
whimsy,
ecstasy,
mania.
Acceptance, friendliness,
trust, kindness, affinity
devotion, adoration,
infatuation, agape
Enjoyment Love
Candidates for Primary Emotions
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25. Candidates for Primary Emotions
Shock, astonishment,
amazement, wonder.
Contempt, disdain,
scorn, abhorrence,
aversion, distaste,
revulsion.
Surprise Disgust Shame
Guilt,
embarrassment,
chagrin, remorse,
humiliation, regret,
mortification,
contrition.
Created by PerformanceBest, LLC