A Trysull, Wolverhampton  training company has launched a pioneering system for companies to spot rising stars among its less academic staff.

It is based on little known “emotional intelligence”, which questions the traditional methods of selecting potential leaders by their academic achievements, IQ and technical knowhow.

“We’re turning this thinking on its head,” said highly experienced leadership coach, Nicola Hughes.  “In my experience too few of our academics actually accomplish anything worthwhile  in their chosen careers, yet many of these smart graduates are put in top positions.”

She warned industry and commerce bosses in the West Midlands: "It's not how smart they are, but how they are smart that matters when it comes to leadership."

Nicola, head of Luminate Coaching, said she has seen many instances of educationally smart managers whose staff were totally turned off by everything they said. "They were unmotivated and bored; and unmotivated and bored staff are no good to any company that wants to go places," she said.

Nicola has now launched pioneering courses in "emotional intelligence" - teaching bosses how to promote staff through their achievements and ability, ignoring their very often brilliant academic record. 

Luminate, have launched a series of talent developing courses for a well known building society and have introduced the principles of emotional intelligence to the influential Association of International Accountants. 

The company is working with senior managers at the building society, to develop the skills of staff with leadership potential. "These are people who will take the company forward through their natural instincts to achieve and who are looked up to by their peers," said Nicola.

She continued: "We are defying traditional thinking which says that the acedemically bright are the natural leaders and we are finding a large number of organisations ready to agree with us, having found themselves with leaders who have not performed.

"I have been pleasantly surprised, however, at how local companies in particular, are open to new thinking.  Their senior managers are getting new impetus from emotional intelligence and it is  already identifying new leaders."

For more information, contact John Fisher PR on 01785 840978