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An early photo of the inseparable duo: Tony Blair & Gordon Brown

The most quoted line from Tony Blair’s recent autobiography, A Journey, is probably his ledger-like description of Gordon Brown:

“Political calculation, yes. Political feelings, no.
Analytical intelligence, absolutely. Emotional intelligence, zero.”

Emotional Intelligence & Gordon Brown
Many earlier sources paint a similar picture of Brown, most notably Lord Turnbull’s  reference to his “Stalinist ruthlessness”.

Equally unflattering is the 2003 Channel 4 movie, The Deal, which shows him to be moody, intense and intolerant.

Brown, of course, is not the only political leader, having to contend with a low emotional intelligence (EI)  charge.

Fred Greenstein’s book, The Presidential Difference, points to 4 of the last 11 US presidents, as having major EI issues, as well; drawing attention to:

- Richard Nixon’s  “feelings of persecution”
- Lyndon Johnson’s “mood swings”
- Jimmy Carter’s “fixed … ideas”
- Bill Clinton’s “psychic shortcomings”.

Emotional Intelligence & Tony Blair
To psychologists, high EI results from being well-balanced in “recognising & managing emotions, in oneself and others”.  

Lay folk see it more as just old-fashioned manners, maturity and moderation.

By either measure, Tony Blair is an ace; showing an armory of game-breakers, particularly in terms of … smarts, humour & pluck.

Being smart is key
Smart is an adjective that liberally peppers his compliments to others – obviously, reflecting a quality that he sees as key to success.

In his autobiography, he tells us that “George W. Bush is very smart”, and that Bill Clinton is “phenomenally smart”.

In recounting a meeting from 25 years earlier with, US Treasury Secretary, Jim Baker, who obviously made a very big impression on him, he says:

“Jim was focused, on top of the detail, erudite … took my warnings and exposed them as a series of paper tigers. Above all, he was smart”.

Intuition & instinct rule 
And, by smart, he simply means someone who can get to the essence of an issue, without needing much analysis or evidence – one who can instantly see through to the end-game.

This is a quality that he has exhibited, time and time again, in his own career. 

For instance, in the book he explains that he was never in any doubt, but that Brown would drop out of the 1994 leadership race.

And, of course, he very much admires Peter Mandelson, for the same intuitive powers - quoting Brown, as saying:

“Peter could tell you not merely what people were thinking today, but what they would  think tomorrow”.

Emotional Intelligence & Humour
Humour is a second quality that appears to serve him well. 

Witness, for instance, his recent appearance with Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show – where in the space of the first 90 seconds, he manages to win 5 laughs from the audience, all at his own expense.  

He speaks to this in the autobiography, setting out the obvious wisdom, as follows:

“if somebody can make you laugh, you’re already in their powers”.

Emtional Intelligence & Pluck
Pluck is the third quality with which he seems endlessly endowed.

It was a brave decision on his part to sacrifice a promising legal career, for a longshot run at modernising the Labour party – in 1983, when it was so strongly in the grip of its own left wing.

But, Blair is never one to bottle it.

In the autobiography, he sets out his philosophy on this (and, to some degree, it may well explain his Iraq decision):

“There are people I’ve come across who … have the inner courage to step out instinctively and without forethought… I always admired that temperment, liked its swagger and absence of manipulation”.  

PS. For details on our related Leading with Emotional Intelligence, 1-day training programme, please click here.