IQ or EQ? Great Leadership Requires Both
Published Sep 8, 2026
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IQ or EQ? Great Leadership Requires Both
Episode notes
Being the smartest person in the room doesn’t make you a great leader. Neither does being the most liked. Roger Francis breaks down the equation at the heart of effective leadership: IQ + EQ. IQ gives leaders the ability to understand the business, analyze complexity, build strategy, and make difficult decisions. EQ gives them the ability to understand the people responsible for bringing that strategy to life. Roger shares a defining lesson from early in his career when a strong strategy and increased accountability weren’t enough to turn around an underperforming team. What finally changed the results wasn’t another report or meeting. It was trust, authenticity, and connection. Great leaders learn to read two systems at once: the capital system and the human system. One tells you how the business is performing. The other tells you whether that performance can last. Continue the Conversation Leadership doesn’t stop when the episode ends. Connect with Roger Francis for more insights on leadership, growth, and putting IQ + EQ into practice. Get your copy of The Integrated Leader on Amazon: amazon.com Connect with Roger Francis: Instagram: instagram.com Facebook: facebook.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com Follow The Leadership Equation for more candid conversations about what it takes to lead people, execute strategy, and deliver results.