Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

1. Self-Awareness: The knowledge of the self and the reflection is central to emotional intelligence. Being self-aware is being conscious of one’s own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and also all those hidden triggers that people live with. Leaders who have this knowledge of their own self will be better decision makers. Fascinatingly, 95% of people believe they are self-aware but only 10-15% actually are. During a recent coaching session with a senior banking executive, he experienced a powerful emotional outburst when he came to the realization that he possessed only a limited understanding of himself and the missed opportunities resulting from this self-neglect throughout his career. A lack of self-awareness leads to extra stress and less motivation among teams. All this considerably impacts the success of businesses.
2. Social Skills: How do leaders interact with others in a social setting? Social skills covers this ability of people that helps them to not only communicate clearly and manage relationships, but also inspire those around them. Social skills will improve the ‘likeability factor’ in leaders. Leaders require strong social skills to build high-performing teams and committed followers. When perusing 360-degree reports as an aspect of the coaching program, it is rarely observed that individuals possess the ability to establish meaningful correlations from every possible angle. Social skills enable leaders to form a connection with their teams at a personal level and also nurture a sense of trust and partnership. One of the fundamental responsibilities of a leader is to effectively manage the external environment of their enterprise and this necessitates exceptional social skills.
3. Self-Regulation: The ability to manage one’s behavior and emotions to meet the goals and standards you set is self-regulation. Managing your emotions, mainly in stressful situations, and also upholding an optimistic attitude regardless of obstacles is the key to self-regulation. Leaders who do this successfully can avoid making decisions impulsively. The ability to switch from reaction to response is key. I often assist my coachees in conducting introspective research to identify the root cause of their emotional imbalances. This exploration may occasionally lead them to examine the formative years of their behavior. It is easy to correct something if the root cause is identified. Self-regulation techniques like pausing, taking a deep breath, and taking time to collect oneself when needed are employed by emotionally intelligent leaders.
4. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others is vital in leaders. Compassionate leaders make an effort to understand other’ perspectives. Empathy is what can build trust and also create a sense of psychological safety, while encouraging open communication among teams. Neuroscience showcases the critical role that empathy plays in nurturing happiness and engagement across trust, relationships, genuineness, and appreciation. Employees feel more valued when leaders are accustomed to their needs with empathy. Great leaders exhibit the attitude of ‘seek to understand before being understood’ and they can make great impact on their team.
5. Conflict Resolution: It is very common for differences to emerge between parties in the workplace. Conflict resolution is the process of peacefully finding a solution, which is a hallmark of emotionally intelligent leaders. As an alternative to avoiding/escalating a conflict, emotionally intelligent leaders address them in a calm and constructive manner. They do this by listening to all sides involved, understanding their emotions, and working with everyone involved so that they can find solutions that are mutually beneficial. Resolving conflicts quickly and courteously will save businesses some valuable time and resources while also upholding the team’s morale.

6. Active Listening: This is a core emotional skill, which is rarely found in the busy and competitive business environment today. Hearing a speaker attentively and understanding their message as well as responding with respect is active listening. Paying attention, showing you’re listening, providing feedback, avoiding judgment, and responding respectfully are key components. Fully understanding not only the verbal, but also the non-verbal messages is crucial. Active listening by leaders builds trust within teams and makes them feel valued.