Book: Social Intelligence
the New Science of Success
by Karl Albrecht
with a foreword by Professor Warren Bennis, USC:
"Karl Albrecht ... invites us into his world of ideas in a beguiling way, and subtly re-arranges our thinking about what we thought we'd already arranged. His latest effort, this thoroughly charming and well-researched book, Social Intelligence, breaks new ground on the terrain we thought we understood."
— Professor Warren Bennis
According to Dr. Karl Albrecht, one of the world's leading authorities on human competence:
"More people have probably lost jobs, friends, mates, and marriages
due to social incompetence than for all other reasons."
In this ground-breaking book, he shows how the dimension of social intelligence — perceptiveness, situational savvy, and interaction skill — is key to success at work and in personal life.The breakthrough work of Harvard's Professor Howard Gardner has legitimized the notion that human intelligence is not just a single trait (IQ) but a constellation of capabilities. A decade ago, Daniel Goleman popularized this notion with the book Emotional Intelligence. Now, Karl Albrecht takes the dimension of inter-personal intelligence and builds it into a full-fledged topic and a body of knowledge.
Praise for Social Intelligence:
— Steven R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
". . . Powerfully convincing, Albrecht's Social Intelligence brilliantly adds another facet of understanding to why some succeed with people and others don't. His S.P.A.C.E. interaction theory was especially fascinating. What a remarkable contribution!"
— Marshall Goldsmith, Executive Coach, co-editor, The Leader of the Future and Global Leadership:
"Every day I meet leaders with very high mental IQ's and very low social IQ's. Social Intelligence shows why it's important to have both! It's filled with wonderful stories and examples that show what social intelligence is and, more important, how to develop yours. This book is recommended reading for any leader and any coach."
— Jim Kouzes, co-author, The Leadership Challenge:
"In Social Intelligence Karl Albrecht engages us in a lively, insightful, and compelling exploration of the most crucial of human competencies. Full of real-life examples, a memorable framework, and practical tools and skills, Social Intelligence is a must-have guide for navigating our way through the sometimes mystifying, sometimes hilarious, and always stimulating world of person-to-person interactions. Hurry up and buy this book. You'll want to read it before your next encounter with a fellow human."
— Beverly L. Kaye, co-author, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay
"Karl Albrecht pulls from a lifetime of experience to make his model come to life. He is a master storyteller, and pulls on his eclectic knowledge of films, politics, and even Popeye to get his points across. You will dog-ear and highlight every other page!"
— Mike Scott, RAdm, US Navy (Ret):
"Throughout my military career I often observed the close relationship between social intelligence and operational effectiveness, as well as career advancement. I wish I'd had this book to help me when I was responsible for developing and guiding the careers of so many officers and enlisted members. Karl Albrecht has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of SI and making it relevant in practical terms."
CONTENTS:
Foreword: by Professor Warren Bennis, USC
Preface
1. A Different Kind of "Smart"
Old Wine in New Bottles?
Going Beyond IQ
EI, SI, or Both?
From Toxic to Nourishing
Blind Spots, Lenses, and Filters
Social Halitosis, Flatulence, and Dandruff
The "Dilbert" Factor
Can We Become a Socially Smarter Species?
S.P.A.C.E.: The Skills of Interaction
2. "S" Stands for Situational Awareness
Situational Dumbness and Numbness
Ballistic Podiatry: Making the Worst of a Situation
Reading the Social Context
What to Look For
The Proxemic Context
The Behavioral Context
The Semantic Context
Navigating Cultures and Subcultures
Codes of Conduct: Violate the Rules at Your Peril
Building the Skills of Situational Awareness
3. "P" Stands for Presence
Being There
Is Charisma Over-Rated?
Do Looks Matter?
Reading (And Shaping) the Rules of Engagement
The Ugly American Syndrome
More of You, Less of Me
A Case of Attitude
Building the Skills of Presence
4. "A" Stands for Authenticity
Take a Tip From Popeye
It's a Beautiful Day in the SI Neighborhood
The Snap-On Smile: Can You Fake Sincerity?
Left-Handed Compliments
The Puppy Dog Syndrome
Narcissm: It's Really All About Me
Head Games, Power Struggles, and Manipulation
Building the Skills of Authenticity
5. "C" Stands for Clarity
A Way With Words
Hoof-in-Mouth Disease: Sometimes Silence Works Best
Role-Speak and Real-Speak
Helicopter Language and Elevator Speeches
"Clean" Language and "Dirty" Language
Verbal Bludgeons
Taking a Brain For a Walk
The Power of Metaphor
E-Prime: the Language of Sanity
Building the Skills of Clarity
6. "E" Stands for Empathy
What Destroys Empathy?
What Builds Empathy?
The Platinum Rule
The Irony of Empathic Professions
L.E.A.P.S.: Empathy by Design
Empathy in Four Minutes
Building the Skills of Empathy
7. Assessing and Developing SI
Assessing Your Interaction Skills
Self-Awareness: Seeing Yourself as Others See You
Assessing Your Interaction Style: Drivers, Energizers, Diplomats, and Loners
The Strength-Weakness Irony
Priorities for Improvement
8. SI in the World of Work: Some Reflections
The Real and Legal Consequences of Social Incompetence
Cultures of Conflict and Craziness
Hierarchies, Testosterone, and Gender Politics
Getting it Right at Work and Wrong at Home
The Diversity Puzzle
Ritual, Ceremony, and Celebration
Positive Politics: Getting Ahead with Your Value System Intact
9. SI in Charge: Thoughts on Developing Socially Intelligent Leaders
The S.O.B. Factor
Executive Hubris: Its Costs and Consequences
Best Boss, Worst Boss
P.O.W.E.R.: Where It Comes From, How to Get It
How the Worst Bastards on the Planet Get and Keep Power
The Algebra of Influence
S.P.I.C.E.: Leading When You're Not In Charge
Epilogue. SI and Conflict: Thoughts About Getting Along
Our Children Are Not Our Children
The (Only) Ten Basic News Stories
Anxiety Drives Attention
Breaking the Addiction to Television
The Buying of Our Babies
Video Games: the New Sandlot
Teachers, Parents, or Neither?
Belonging or Be Longing
The S.P.A.C.E. Solution for Schools
A Prescription for SI at Every Age
Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2005
