"How Do Leaders Build Trust in an Untrusting World?
Emotional Intelligence Matters" presented by Paul Metler, Ph.D., InitiativeOne

"It's impossible," said pride. "It's risky," said experience. "It's pointless," said reason. "Give it a try," whispered the HEART. -Unknown

Do you know what it’s like to be on the other side of you? As a leader, it is a powerful question.

When leadership is defined, a few themes always rise to the top. Leaders influence others in a positive way. Leaders develop others and their ability to serve. Leaders empower others to act. Leaders are agents of positive change. Each of these elements requires a measure of healthy trust.

A quick survey of our world’s current state of affairs reveals that healthy trust seems to be scarce. We live in a world full of love, joy, hope, forgiveness, and redemption, but it’s also full of angst, hate, pain, sorrow, and despair. Just turn on the news. People shout, “Black Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter”. Lives matter [period]. Every day, in the name of this or that cause, lives are lost and mistrust grows. Social injustice, radical religious agendas, political unrest, and even economic and job uncertainty terrorize our existence, break our trust in our leaders and their ability to take care of us and affect positive change.

Like it or not, our offices and boardrooms mirror the world stage. When trust is scarce, unhealthy conflict is prevalent. Creating a culture where healthy trust thrives is a significant challenge. How do leaders build healthy trust in an untrusting world?

Perhaps what appears to be a problem could in fact be a golden opportunity. Conflict situations can be useful catalysts for building trust and accelerating leadership development. Transforming destructive conflict into healthy conflict requires emotional intelligence, or EQ.

On August 12, Dr. Paul Metler, a lead change agent, will discuss how to develop your EQ and thereby enhance your ability to maximize trust building opportunities and greater success. EQ is responsible for 58% of your job performance, and 90% of top performers have high EQ (Bradberry & Greaves, Emotional Intelligence 2.0). As such, business leaders are in a unique position to help bridge the trust gap.

Emotional intelligence matters. We cannot afford to ignore the human element of business. The cost of not employing it is too high.

Meet Our Speaker: Paul Metler, Ph.D.

Dr. Metler is passionate about helping others discover that positive transformation is possible. Along with Dr. Fred Johnson, Founder and CEO of InitiativeOne, Dr. Metler designs and delivers Leadership Transformation processes for clients from diverse business sectors including corporate leaders, educational leaders, faith-based leaders and professional sports leaders (testimonial video).

His work at InitiativeOne spans more than a decade. Dr. Metler’s responsibilities as Vice President of Content Development incorporate his vast experience in leadership that stretches across several countries and multiple venues. His experience includes executive coaching, facilitation, speaking, leadership development, college curriculum development and teaching, writing and pastoral ministry.

Dr. Metler’s personal leadership journey began early in his career through mentorship from his father and brother in their family-owned trucking business, A.J. Metler Hauling and Rigging, Inc. (MHR). MHR developed a reputation as an innovative industry leader in transporting specialized glass.

In addition to his experience in the trucking industry, Dr. Metler is an ordained minister. As a minister, Dr. Metler has refined his understanding of servant leadership and the importance of a holistic approach to leadership development that includes knowing, doing and being. He is co-author of the books, “Is Everyone On the Boat?” and “The Reality of Change”, and has worked extensively as a strategic leadership consultant with executive teams in large and small organizations.

His academic experience includes development and instruction of numerous leadership courses as an adjunct professor. Dr. Metler has enjoyed opportunities to speak and teach in a number of countries outside the U.S. including Canada, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil and Russia.

Paul lives in Knoxville with his wife, Lynn, and son, Nick.

Coffee, light breakfast, and TLC served.