Gareth’s first in the EQ
Gareth Southgate has become one of England’s f ines t managers not because of his tactical nous, but be c ause of h i s emotional intelligence.
That’s the verdict of former Spurs, Norwich and Northern Ireland player turned per formance psychologist Paul McVeigh – a man who remembers getting booted all over Villa Park by Southgate on his Spurs debut in 1997.
McVeigh said: “One of the first traits that has made Gareth Southgate such a good leader for England is his emotional intelligence.
“The phrase emotional intelligence was coined in the Nineties by Daniel Goleman.
“Essential ly, what he researched was that people who are top leaders, it’s not about their IQ, it’s about their emotional intelligence, or EQ, and this is based on people skills.
“So even when Gareth used to kick me all over Villa Park, he wasn’t a ranter and raver, he wasn’t shouting and screaming. But he was
very good at doing his job and he had this authority.
“We see that now in his interviews and al l the things he has done in his coaching career.
“He leads because he understands people, and one of the greatest traits and characteristics that emotional intelligence purports is empathy.
“That’s how Gareth works and it’s why he has totally transformed the whole English football set-up.
“It’s probably much more to do with his emotional intel l igence than his tactical nous.
“You realise how important fans and other stakeholders within a club, or association are because they are emot ional ly involved in the process.
“The more you can get all those people bought into it, that’s when people are all pul l ing in the same direction.”