SOCIAL Entrepreneurship & Social Intelligence
In 2005, business writer Karl Albrecht http://karlalbrecht.com/
proposed a five-part model of social intelligence in his book Social Intelligence: the New Science of Success,
“S.P.A.C.E.” –
Situational Awareness,
Presence,
Authenticity,
Clarity, and
Empathy.
What does this mean to entrepreneurs and specifically to socially responsible leaders in the new millennium?  
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
According to Mike Handcock, author, speaker and founder of the ROCK YOUR LIFE motivational programs , http://www.mdh.co.nz
Mike suggests that situational awareness is a key component to building rapport and is an effective way to utilize and heighten your sensory acuity. By using your senses – seeing, hearing, touching, and even tasting and smelling, an entrepreneur is more equipped to analyze a situation quickly, effectively and accurately.
By tapping into situational awareness, entrepreneurs can see things with new eyes, seize opportunities and move into action immediately. Situational awareness is about being in the moment and being aware of the people, surroundings, and hierarchy in the specific environment, and that is particularly important especially in doing business in Asia Pacific.  
PRESENCE
For social intelligence, the concept of presence is to “live in the moment”.
Living in the past with its burdens, problems or package or in the future will its fears, doubts, and uncertainties disconnects you from living in the moment and may not serve you in tapping into the mysteries and infinite possibilities of the present.
 
One of my favorite techniques to be present is to prior to entering a room or meeting or function, take three deep cleansing breaths - breath in through the nose and out through the mouth, deeply three times. This breathing allows me to cleanse the stresses of the day. It also centers me on my breathing which increases oxygen intake and happens to increase my self confidence and self esteem. When combined with some smiling, it allows me to align the subconscious and conscious minds which often leads to increased presence with the people and awareness of the environment.
AUTHENTICITY
Authenticity is allowing your true or genuine self to come to the surface. By removing the “masks” that people wear in society, it allows the genuine self to be exposed and can often lead to vulnerability which in turn can lead to amazing attraction.
A wonderful example of authenticity comes from the traditional Japanese sport of SUMO. When a rekishi or sumo wrestler retires from competitive sumo, the retirement ceremony DANPATSUSHI occurs with the rekishi sitting in the middle of the ring or Dohryo while fifteen or so of his mentors, coaches, teachers, associates and even rivals will enter the dohryo and cut a piece of his top knot.
With each cut, the retiring rekishi allows his brave warrior mask come down and his authentic human face is exposed. By the end of the ceremony these national treasures are often reduced to tears and in doing so have allowed their authentic self to be fully exposed.  With the audience, their status, level of respect, and admiration is at a peak level. This pure and ego-less experience demonstrates an example wherein the common folk can connect with the famed rekishi’s genuineness, humanity, and vulnerability and in doing so, their level of attraction is at a peak.
CLARITY
In the field of social intelligence clarity is power. Be clear, focused and direct in what you want. Ask often, ask clearly, and ask with passion.  
During the Entrepreneur Business School last year in Bali (www.resultsfoundation.com), I was teamed up with Mike Southern, entrepreneur, business speaker, and co-author of the best selling book the Beermat Entrepreneur - http://www.beermat.biz – it was great working with Mike and during our sessions, we coached entrepreneurs on clarity and focus. Our key questions to assist entrepreneurs to enhance their social intelligence and to get them to articulate their business with clarity and power were
- What is your product?
- What problem are you solving?  
- Who can we introduce you to?
By enhancing your clarity, you set a clear and concise message that allows others and the universe to conspire to make your manifestations a reality.
EMPATHY
Empathy is commonly defined as one’s ability to recognize, perceive and directly feel the emotion of another.
Entrepreneurs, especially social aware entrepreneurs consider the situation of the people that they are facing. They know their audience, get to know their interest, and will quickly ask themselves, “If I were in their situation, how would I react to this?
Leading entrepreneurs identify with people and can effectively trade minds with individuals or the masses. It is the art of communication that allows them to connect at the heart, motivate with the mind, and inspire with the vision, while maintaining full congruency with their own values, beliefs, and vision.
In Singapore, Founding Father and socially aware innovator Lee Kwan Yew’s life experiences can be highlighted as utilizing many of the principles espoused by the SPACE approach to social intelligence. From empathizing, connecting, and leading a disenfranchised people when he returned from Malaysia with a decision to set out and design the Island Republic of Singapore, to the clarity and determination to adapt strict, firm, and unwavering rules, regulations and laws on corporal and capital punishment for a nation, to the authentic approach in creating open and direct communication, all in the while of maintaining a dynamic balance and situational awareness and being present throughout his career, especially as he embraced the personal, professional, and spiritual undercurrents and challenges in his own life long journey.

Have a brilliant week ahead,

Dave Rogers

“inspiring the spirit of entrepreneurship”

www.daverogers.net
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