As a leader did you know the Best Advice: “Don’t tell me his IQ, Tell Me Your GQ (Guts Quotient)?"

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:50:23 -0400

As a leader did you know the Best Advice: “Don’t tell me his IQ, Tell Me Your GQ (Guts Quotient)?”

I haven't posted anything about Leadership in a while, but I just found this very good article on guts. Leaders have to have guts.

http://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/2015/09/best-advice-tell-me-your-gq-guts-quotient-not-your-iq/#.VexPhnBVuGs.linkedin

I was a high school junior. I thought I was pretty smart. Then I came face to face with Charles Keller. He was a chairman of the history department and director of admissions at Williams College. Keller had reviewed tens of thousands of college applications in his career. He’d helped develop the SAT test. Keller looked at me, then looked at my parents and said something I’ll never forget:

“Don’t tell me his IQ,” he said. “Tell me his GQ. What’s his ‘guts quotient?"

Best Advice: Tell Me Your GQ (Guts Quotient), Not Your IQ

Of course, intelligence is valuable in getting through life and achieving one’s goals. But, having the courage and faith to be persistent is vital to leaving a true and lasting legacy.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 10:54 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:54:47 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs This is a great article. It's important to have fortitude. Fortitude is that thing that gets you through the tough times. It doesn't mean you'll come out on top, you might be ran over the machine but at least you stood for something. What's that line "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." Thanks Col for posting this.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 6 at 2015 11:16 AM

SGT Michael Glenn — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 11:16:37 -0400

I didnt always make the right decision and I dont think anyone walking this Earth can say they have, I CAN say I Always stood up for my soldiers and did what was right which landed me into countless situations where I was looked down upon by both peers and superiors. If I had to do them all over again...Nothing would change. I have taken an Art 15 for standing up for my soldiers to loosing 3/4 of my backside for them ( I was very thin). The one thing this gained me was the respect of my soldiers and I would never trade that for anything.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 6 at 2015 12:05 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:05:36 -0400

I heard the the origin of the IQ test (or at least one of its first large usages) was to select out the Officer material during the call-up in WW1.
That being said, IQ writes the check .. Intestinal Fortitude cashes it!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 6 at 2015 2:23 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 14:23:08 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, depending on the tasks, duties and missions of individual Soldiers and units the IQ [GT in ASVAB] may or may not be relevant the potential for the soldier to succeed.
Certainly for direct action units which may include hand-to-hand combat the guts quotient (GQ) is important; but, the ability to work well within a team would be equally as important.
For administrative, service support and similar types of units which have technical requirements the GT [IQ] may be more important that the GQ but the CQ is important for dealing with supported personnel who show up with an attitude and demand that their unit should move up the priority of support list.