Leadership makes all the difference

August 22, 2025/Business/

Funeral homes are a great study on this subject. With many being “Generational” in nature, have you ever wondered why some generational funeral homes stay “status quo” as the next generation takes over and other funeral homes either decline or grow in success with the same generation leadership changes?

I think it is all about the “Leadership” that the next generation brings to the table. In my view, “Leadership”, or the lack of it, more than any other trait or community change in demographics, is what gets funeral homes excelling in business or declining in business.

With that preface I will tell you that I read this article from the Passare blog titled “Five proven leadership lessons from a CEO“. The article is a synopsis of an interview with Funeral Director’s Life CEO Kris Seale from the company’s podcast series “The Graveyard Shift”. You can also access the podcast from the same link.

In his interview Seale brings five lessons that he has learned over the years. Here they are:

Culture is built by design

Hire for attitude, train for skill

One bad apple can spoil the culture

Share frequent constructive feedback

Leadership is more than a title.

In the article Seale expounds on each facet of his Five Proven Leadership Lessons and in the podcast you can hear him explain the leadership points in more detail.

The rise of “EQ” — For a long time most experts thought that the smarter one was, as measured by an Intelligence Quotient (IQ), the better at leading one would be. That is now being challenged with many experts believing that “EQ”, or “Emotional Intelligence” is a greater predictor of success.

Here’s a short explanation from Gemini Artificial Intelligence, about the two and how the two factors can work together to display great leadership skills:

Both EQ (Emotional Quotient) and IQ (Intelligence Quotient) play significant roles in determining success, but they contribute to different aspects.

IQ’s role

IQ primarily assesses an individual’s cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, and the ability to acquire and apply knowledge.

High IQ is associated with excelling in tasks that require analytical skills, complex problem-solving, and technical expertise.

It’s a strong predictor of academic performance and success in roles that demand strong cognitive processing and technical knowledge.

EQ’s role

Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the ability to understand, manage, and utilize one’s own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others.

Key components of EQ include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

EQ is especially crucial in leadership, teamwork, communication, and navigating complex social situations.

Studies suggest that EQ is a more significant predictor of success in many areas, particularly in leadership and interpersonal dynamics, than IQ alone.

Complementary forces

Instead of viewing EQ and IQ as competing forces, they are best understood as complementary aspects of intelligence.

IQ might open the door to opportunities, but EQ often determines how effectively individuals navigate their careers, build strong relationships, lead teams, and adapt to changing environments.

Many employers now recognize the importance of both and prioritize candidates with a strong combination of IQ and EQ.

Developing both cognitive and emotional intelligence leads to a more balanced and impactful professional journey.

In conclusion, while IQ is valuable for cognitive prowess and technical skills, EQ’s significance for overall success, particularly in leadership, teamwork, and navigating social complexities, is increasingly being recognized and valued.

Related Article — “EQ is a better predictor of success than IQ”. MiTraining Blog (Australia)

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take: I’m kind of a “Johnny-come-lately” to the EQ theory. I had never heard of EQ until I started on the Board at the University of Minnesota. But, I now believe that “Emotional Intelligence” is the foundational trait that builds a business. In my opinion, to build a business into a success, one has to understand what is going on around him/her at all times — that recognition of surroundings is not something that a high IQ person will necessarily possess.

However, a high EQ person will have that recognition. When I play golf if I am in a cart with the other golfer driving, if they always drive to their golf ball first and then say something like “Where’s your ball?” that’s an indication that they don’t have a very high EQ because they are never concerned with you until they have taken care of themselves.

Just my thought here. . . .but I don’t think I would put that person in a leadership position. I want my leaders, or funeral home managers, to be concerned with their clients and their team members before they are concerned with themselves.

Servant Driven Leaders — Bob Upgren is a “Servant Driven Leader”. I first met Bob Upgren when I owned a sports travel business and our company led a college basketball all-star team on a 10-day exhibition tour of Europe in 1991. Bob Upgren was a recent college graduate and member of the all-star team and I traveled with the team on this particular tour.

Today, Bob is one of the nation’s foremost speakers on Servant Leadership. I keep the following graphic, which I was exposed to at one of his motivational speaking events, posted in my office to remind me of “Leadership”. His motto is “We lead best when we serve first“. I think that motto is a great moniker for leadership success. . . . .especially in the funeral business.