Emotional Intelligence 2.0

In the foreword, Patrick Lencioni introduces Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by highlighting a recurring pattern he has observed across workplaces, schools, homes, and communities: People with impressive education, credentials, or intellect often underperform, while others with fewer apparent advantages excel. He presents this not as an isolated phenomenon but as a widespread reality that conventional predictors of success cannot fully explain. This sets up his central point that emotional intelligence (EI), though harder to measure than IQ and largely invisible on résumés, often makes the critical difference.

To illustrate the gap between EI’s popularity and its application, Lencioni identifies two common misconceptions. First, many confuse EI with charm or extroversion, reducing it to surface-level sociability. Second, they view it as a fixed trait, assuming one either has it or does not. These misperceptions, he argues, prevent people from improving EI despite its clear value. The book’s purpose, as he frames it, is to correct these errors by offering a clear definition of EI and practical strategies for building it, enabling readers to leverage their existing intelligence, education, and experience more effectively.

Lencioni’s reasoning reflects a post-1990s professional climate shaped by psychologist Daniel Goleman’s popularization of EI, where “soft skills” became essential in leadership and collaboration.