The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

Having good technical skills might help many people get their first promotion, but it is certainly not enough for those who aspire to be leaders. The fact of the matter is that there is an important emotional element that should be taken into consideration, which is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence, also known as EQ, is defined as the ability to understand, develop, and manage one’s feelings while comprehending and managing other people’s feelings. Those with high emotional intelligence make excellent leaders and have more productive teams, happier employees, and see better business outcomes. On that premise, the following article presents the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership.

When it comes to emotional intelligence, there are four fundamental competencies: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Self-awareness relates to the individual’s ability to recognize his or her feelings and emotions as well as his or her strengths and limits. Self-management relates to how a person manages his or her emotions, especially in stressful situations. Social awareness relates to empathy, which means understanding other people’s needs, concerns, and abilities. Lastly, relationship management refers to one’s ability to coach, influence, and mentor others.

That being said, emotional intelligence covers imperative skills that every team and business needs to function properly, such as problem-solving, communication, and pursuing excellence, just to mention a few. As managers and leaders are required to oversee their employees, enhance their performance, and develop their skills, having those skills is certainly crucial for better business outcomes and the overall success of the business and the careers of its employees. The fact of the matter is that having a leader who has mastered his or her emotional intelligence will guarantee a high turnover rate, higher employee engagement, and better collaborations.

Indeed, leaders are the ones who set the tone of the organization they work for. So, if their emotional abilities are not in hand, if they do not have self-awareness, if they are not able to manage their feelings in stressful situations and are not able to establish effective relationships, then even hard skills and long-term experiences are not adequate to get very far.