Nelson Mandela had high emotional intelligence
Mandela sees the good in others both because it is in his nature and in his interest. At times that has meant being blindsided, but he has always been willing to take the risk. And it is a risk. We tend to think of the risk as physical daring, like attempting a dangerous climb, or as making a decision with an uncertain outcome, like putting our money into an investment that is not a sure thing. But Mandela believe in and takes emotional risks. He goes out on a limb and makes himself vulnerable by trusting others. We sometimes do that by confiding in others we don’t know well. Yet we rarely equate risk with trying to see what is decent, honest, and good in the people in our daily lives.
?People will feel I see too much good in people,? Mandela once told me. So it’s a criticism I have to put up with, and I’ve tried to adjust because whether it is so or not, it is something I think is profitable. It’s a good thing to assume, to action the basis that others are men of integrity and honor, because you tend to attract integrity and honor if that is how you regard those with whom you work.
I believe in that
Extract from book ?The Mandela Way?