Often, organizational success hinges heavily upon the emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) of business leaders. Blending social skills with business acumen, high emotional intelligence allows those in leadership and management positions to lead with empathy and awareness. Thus, aspiring leaders can benefit from educational programs and training opportunities that recognize the powerful role of emotional intelligence in leadership.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Research published in the scientific journal Heliyon defines emotional intelligence as the ability to understand others within a social context as well as detect and adapt to emotional responses. The concept of emotional intelligence was more widely popularized by business researcher Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book, although it was actually introduced by several other researchers before that (including Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer in 1990).
Emotional intelligence can have a direct impact on organizational success, making it one of the most sought-after characteristics in modern leaders. Leaders with high EI are culturally responsive and aware — able to regulate their own emotions while managing their team with empathy and respect.
As a learnable and essential leadership trait, anyone who aspires to senior-level management positions might consider investing in leadership development that focuses on emotional intelligence.
Key Components of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
Daniel Goleman’s model for emotional intelligence consisted of five key components. Among these core aspects of EI include:
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness involves acknowledging another person’s emotions while having a sense of how your own emotions may impact others. Business leaders with self-awareness recognize that how a person feels has a direct impact on their output and performance.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation refers to the ability to appropriately manage, control, and express emotions. Business leaders who are able to effectively self-regulate their emotions are in turn better equipped to manage conflict and defuse tense situations in the workplace.
Motivation
Within the context of emotional intelligence, the American Psychological Association defines intrinsic motivation as genuine interest and motivation to accomplish an activity, task, or goal without the need for an external reward. Motivated leaders are often considered action-oriented individuals who recognize the importance of goal-setting in business.
Empathy
Empathy entails the ability to understand and respect the emotional perspectives of others. Empathetic leaders are more likely to understand the power dynamics that exist within a professional setting and cultivate more productive relationships with their team members. Especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a comprehensive literature review points out, the ability to manage employees’ fear and stress while adapting workplace policies and communications accordingly has become ever-essential.
Social Skills
These include the competencies required to interact appropriately with others. Business leaders leverage their social skills to navigate a wide range of circumstances in professional settings.
Why Is Emotional Intelligence Important in Leadership?
Emotional intelligence plays a pivotal part in leadership success through:
- Improved communication – Empathy, social skills, and cultural awareness enable business leaders to communicate more effectively with their colleagues.
- Stronger team dynamics – Emotionally intelligent leaders have an intuitive understanding of power dynamics in an organization, which helps them create stronger, more cohesive teams.
- Better conflict resolution – High EI lends itself to improved conflict management, giving leaders the ability to manage and resolve problems in the workplace.
- Higher employee engagement – Employees who feel seen and heard are more likely to feel valued. This can lead to higher levels of engagement and productivity.
- More ethical decision-making – Leaders with social awareness and high emotional intelligence tend to be more thoughtful and considerate when making business decisions — supporting more ethical decision-making throughout the organization.
- Greater adaptability during change – Emotionally intelligent leaders are more resilient and adaptable, allowing them to easily guide teams through transitions and periods of organizational change.
How to Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
Though the skill may come more naturally to some people, anyone can develop their emotional intelligence over time. Leveraging these actionable strategies can strengthen your emotional quotient, helping you grow both professionally and personally:
Practice Self-Reflection
If you are in a leadership position, forming a daily habit of taking time each day to consider the actions you took and the way you interacted with your team will help improve your self-awareness over time.
Learn to Pause Before Reacting
Whether you are dealing with a professional conflict or a personal setback, emotions tend to intensify any experience. Rather than immediately responding when emotions are high, learn to pause first. In most cases, taking a break allows emotions to regulate so you can react in a more thoughtful and professional manner.
Set Personal Goals and Monitor Progress
It can be valuable to establish emotional intelligence goals and identify the necessary steps to get there. Monitor your progress along the way, adapting as needed in order to become more self-aware, responsive, and empathetic.
Actively Listen to Others
Active listening is an intentional practice that shapes intuitive and effective leaders. You may improve your active listening skills by:
- Maintaining eye contact.
- Repeating what you heard.
- Asking open-ended questions.
Build Strong Relationships
Nurturing your professional relationships and leading with empathy can help you forge strong connections within your team and become a more successful leader.
Real-World Examples of Emotionally Intelligent Leaders
Below are just a few examples of leaders with high emotional intelligence that you might look to for inspiration:
- Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) – Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella leads with empathy, with the belief that employees who feel heard and understood will do their best work for the organization.
- Jacinda Ardern (Former Prime Minister of New Zealand) – Having led New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was known for her kindness-first approach.
- Barack Obama (Former U.S. President) – Famously composed, former President Barack Obama led the country with empathy and made an effort to amplify the voices of marginalized groups in order to foster more equitable opportunities for all. In his book, The Audacity of Hope, he wrote, “The biggest deficit that we have in our society and in the world right now is an empathy deficit. We are in great need of people being able to stand in somebody else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes.”
Embracing Emotional Intelligence for Lasting Leadership Impact
As organizations strive to attract and retain the top talent in their industry, more employers are in search of leaders with high EI. This vital leadership skill helps you become more aware, empathetic, and responsive — and by honing your emotional intelligence over time, you may transform into a highly effective leader.
Develop the Interpersonal Skills for Effective Leadership at Johnson & Wales University Online
Today’s business leaders are called upon to be more than agile professionals who know how to create business strategies and fuel innovation within an organization. High emotional intelligence allows them to connect with their employees, lead with empathy, and promote collaboration across specialty areas.
At JWU Online, the Online Master of Business Administration — Organizational Leadership degree focuses on not only business management and operational expertise but also leadership-related communication skills. Graduates leave the program with the ability to analyze research findings to inform organizational decision-making, navigate cross-cultural business dealings, and evaluate problems from diverse perspectives — giving them greater confidence to pursue a variety of leadership opportunities in business.
For more information about completing your degree online, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].
