UNIT 3

Understanding
Others

Unit 3: Understanding Others generalizes what you learned about yourself in units 1 and 2 to others. You will learn about the human emotional system—what leaders work with. In the process, you will learn how to act on emotions, including on your own, for more personal development.

Understanding emotions and their relation to MVIP is the main goal of Unit 3, Understanding Others. Partly you’ll extrapolate what you learned about yourself in units 1 and 2 to others. Even if you understand and can lead yourself, you need to know about people in general and how to lead without using authority to lead others. “Leading” through authority breeds resentment and people wanting to undermine and leave, which is closer to the opposite of leading.

Think of the historical leaders you consider the worst people of all time—how many were authoritarian rulers? Meanwhile, what authority did Nelson Mandela have in his prison cell for 27 years on his way to becoming president? Or did Oprah Winfrey have over her show’s viewers on her way to being named the “Queen of All Media”?

I’m not writing about emotions to talk about feelings gratuitously, nor do I suggest leaders should try to make others feel happy. Emotions are our motivations and are at the heart of MVIP. Like plumbers work with wrenches and pipes, leaders work with emotions and people. You have to master your understanding and skills with them in yourself and others to master leadership.

We have discussed emotions, self-awareness, leadership, and behavior a lot without clarifying what we mean by them. If we want to improve, it helps to know where we are.