If you know anything about me, then you know that I’m always talking about EQ (emotional quotient) it’s importance for leaders. Well, I thought it’s about time I say a little something about IQ and the significance it has in leadership. To many, I am sure the term IQ conjures up images of super-genius child prodigies, or heroic movie stars who save the planet with the power of their brain, but what exactly is it really? And is it something we should even care about?
Your intelligence quotient (IQ) is a measure of your cognitive abilities needed to solve problems, or to put it another way, IQ is in large part a measure of your ability to recognize patterns. Ray Kurzweil, an American inventor, said “Pattern recognition is the essence of all human thought.” So, if we take him at his word, IQ is pretty important to a leader.
I know being a leader requires you to have a good head on your shoulders, to be able to make sense of large amounts of data, and to make difficult decisions based on that data. It is my firm belief that “book smarts” are made even stronger in a person who doesn’t solely rely on intelligence. If you’re going to succeed in life, I recommend cultivating prudence, willpower, goal-orientation, confidence, and perseverance.
Keep that in mind as we look at how to improve your IQ.
- Become a Student of Life
- Add Aerobic Exercise to Your Day
- Journal
Becoming a better leader will help you improve in your career and your personal life. Contact me today to learn more about RedRock Leadership and how we can help you unleash your potential for exponential growth!

Jeff Ruby
Founder & CEO of RedRock Leadership