The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership
To be an effective leader, there is often information overload about what “effective” truly looks like. For some, effective leadership is being able to get on with your manager, whereas for others, it’s having targets and direction. The truth is that what “good” looks like can vary from person to person. However, one thing that doesn’t seem to be a compromise is the importance of emotional intelligence and its role in effective leadership.
The term “emotional intelligence” is believed to be first used in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey. However, it has gained popularity in the recent decade with the advent of leadership roles. Interestingly, emotional intelligence is a great parameter to check a leadership style’s effectiveness.
Experts believe that intelligence quotient (IQ), technical skills, and communication skills are irrelevant if a leader lacks emotional intelligence. The growing importance of emotional intelligence has forced many leaders to learn and implement it into their leadership style to incite innovation, job satisfaction, and a positive working environment in their company. - [source]
What can emotional intelligence look like?
Empathy: In layman's terms, the ability to be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes (even if you don’t agree with them). Being able to see things from someone else's perspective, regardless of whether it resonates with you or not, is a key skill that people with emotional intelligence possess.
Sometimes, empathy can be hard to practice, especially as we all have different lived experiences as human beings in our personal and professional lives. What is considered a big deal to someone may not even cross someone else's mind. However, the ability to show empathy and sit on the same level of understanding as someone is incredibly powerful, especially as a leader.
Self-awareness: Have you ever been around someone who has no idea how their words and actions impact others? That’s someone who lacks self-awareness. We’ve all experienced times in our lives where we’ve lacked self-awareness, and it’s usually something that comes naturally with age.
The self-awareness of a 15-year-old is far less than that of a 25-year-old. Maturity enables our brains to develop and understand what is considered right and wrong, as well as what is and isn’t socially acceptable in a personal or work setting. Self-awareness as a leader is paramount to how you’re viewed by your team. If you’re unable to understand how your actions may affect someone or simply think that you’re better than others, it can create huge issues.
“People who are aware of how people see them are more likely to be empathetic to people with different perspectives. Leaders whose self-perception matches others' perceptions are more likely to empower, include, and recognize others.” [source]
Regulation of emotion: We all have those days when things go wrong, and it can be very easy to take out our frustrations on others. Being able to regulate your emotions when you’re having a bad day is crucial when you’re a leader. This could be anger, sadness, frustration, or disappointment. Regulating your emotions and being aware of them enable you to operate in a much more balanced and stable way for the rest of your team.
You’re authentic: You’re not afraid to be who you are, even if that means showing people what your flaws are. As a leader, it can be easy to fall into a perfectionist mindset and to never get anything wrong. However, this can create a false reality for those in your team, as well as a false expectation that they must be the same. A human approach = a human team!
How can you enhance your emotional intelligence as a leader?
Invest in your personal development
No one will be “complete” in learning how to be emotionally intelligent. As we grow and mature over time, our emotional intelligence needs to grow and mature with us. A great resource that we recommend looking at is a book called “Radical Candor”:
“The idea is simple: You don't have to choose between being a pushover and a jerk. Using Radical Candor―avoiding the perils of Obnoxious Aggression, Manipulative Insincerity, and Ruinous Empathy―you can be kind and clear at the same time.”
This is a great starting point for those who are looking to invest in themselves and supercharge their emotional intelligence.
Ask for feedback
No one is the finished article, and even CEOs of global corporations rely on feedback to be better versions of themselves. Not only does this show your consideration for others' thoughts and feelings, but it also allows you to practice humility and receive tangible advice that you can learn from.
Make it a team effort
Suppose no one else is on a journey to be better and have higher emotional intelligence within the organisation you work in. In that case, it can be demotivating to feel like you’re not on the same page as others. Try and encourage others to embark on this learning journey with you, not just to boost your enhance your emotional intelligence - but to get them to look at theirs, too.
What is emotional intelligence's role in effective leadership?
In summary, emotional intelligence is a key factor for leaders and their teams to thrive. Emotional intelligence gives leaders longevity: to lead through times of positivity, crises, and unknown times. This is because the qualities that make up emotional intelligence give leaders the power to weather any kind of storm, thus creating a stable environment and culture for others.
