Exclusive media partner: The New York Times

Newsletter

Receive regular updates about forthcoming events and other news from Intelligence Squared

Thanks

You have been added to our mailing list and will now be among the first to hear about events.

Play video 1:18:17

Watch

Daniel Goleman on Focus: The Secret to High Performance and Fulfilment

Psychologist Daniel Goleman shot to fame with his groundbreaking bestseller Emotional Intelligence. Here he discusses the themes of his latest book, Altered Traits.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman shot to fame with his groundbreaking bestseller Emotional Intelligence. The premise of the book, now widely accepted, is that raw intelligence alone is not a sure predictor of success in life. A greater role is played by ‘softer’ skills such as self-control, self-motivation, empathy and good interpersonal relationships.

Now Goleman comes to Intelligence Squared for an exclusive talk on the themes of his latest book, Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence. Attention, he will argue, is an underrated asset for high achievers in any field. Incorporating findings from neuroscience, Goleman will show why we need three kinds of focus: inner, for self-awareness; other, for the empathy that builds effective relationships; and outer, for understanding the larger systems in which organisations operate. Those who excel rely on Smart Practices such as mindfulness meditation, focused preparation and positive emotions that help improve habits, add new skills, and sustain excellence.


Speakers

Featuring

Daniel Goleman

Bestselling author and psychologist


Bestselling author and psychologist, whose book Emotional Intelligence has sold over 5 million copies worldwide since its publication in 1995. The concept of emotional intelligence — which discounts IQ as the sole measure of one’s abilities — was described by Harvard Business Review as ‘a paradigm-shattering idea’. He has also written on topics including leadership, self-deception, creativity, transparency, meditation, social and emotional learning, ecoliteracy and the ecological crisis