“He did what?” Rushing to the banquet, evidence in hand, I mounted the stage just as the degenerate began to speak of acceptance and decry his evil deed before the audience, his family, and the illustrious jury; then his family would turn their back on the traitor, the jury would call the police, the criminal would be arrested, and the prize would be presented to me, the rightful winner, to the applause of the audience and the adoration of my family, friends and fans. While this response would never have happened, the fantasy would probably have crossed my mind after learning that someone else had won a prestigious award based on plagiarism of my work. The reality would most likely be different, because at the ripe, young age of 43, I have had to deal with a variety of experiences that have tested both my intelligence and my emotional intelligence. When faced with the difficult situation of my work being stolen by a competitor, considerable emotional labor and emotional intelligence would be required, but with a calm, balanced and reasoned response, a positive outcome is likely. When a friend told him the news for the first time, The first challenge is to control the reaction. In my role as a business leader, I often find myself in situations where emotional restraint is required, a client meeting where a significant deal is lost, or a key relationship is at risk, or an internal meeting where other executives are trying to take over. the organization I serve for. Long ago, these types of situations resulted in outbursts or, at the very least, body language that let everyone know what I thought. Coaching and experience have taught me to stop, listen and ask questions. The act of curiosity allows time to absorb mea... middle of paper... in those moments, when all behaviors flee, when we are most human. Works Cited Barsade, S. G. (2002). The ripple effect: Emotional contagion and its influence on group behavior. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(4), 644-675.Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books. Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. E., & McKee, A. (2002). Primary leadership: Realizing the power of emotional intelligence. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press. Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R. (2008). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills, and best practices (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.Lublin, J.S. (2004, March 2, 2004). Surviving Pressure with a Ready Plan or, Literally, a Script, The Wall Street Journal Online, pp. 1-3. Retrieved from http://research.uvu.edu/management/mcarthur/Employment help/2Mar04-WSJ-Surviving Job Pressure With a Plan.pdf