“When we know how the brain works, we are more likely to create stronger emotional connections between customers and employees and between colleagues too.” – Sandra Thompson 

Why Emotional Intelligence is Important in Leadership

Excerpt from Harvard Business School Online

The technical skills that helped secure your first promotion might not guarantee your next. If you aspire to be in a leadership role, there’s an emotional element you must consider. It’s what helps you successfully coach teams, manage stress, deliver feedback, and collaborate with others.

It’s called emotional intelligence and is one of the most sought-after interpersonal skills in the workplace. In fact, 71 percent of employers value emotional intelligence more than technical skills when evaluating candidates.

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. The term was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey, but was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman.

More than a decade ago, Goleman highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, telling the Harvard Business Review, “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but…they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.”

Lacking critical emotional skills can lead to workplace conflict, such as misunderstandings due to an inability to recognize or understand emotions.

One of the most common indicators of low emotional intelligence is difficulty managing and expressing emotions. You might struggle with acknowledging colleagues’ concerns appropriately or wrestle with active listening. Consider the relationships you have with your co-workers. Are your conversations strained? Do you repeatedly blame others when projects don’t go as planned? Are you prone to outbursts? These are all signs of a lack of emotional intelligence.

It’s important to cultivate social skills by understanding and practicing empathy and the core components of emotional intelligence.

Go to HBR Online

Program Takeaways

• Understanding the difference between Empathy and Emotional Intelligence and why you need EI to empathize in a meaningful way (a very basic intro into neuroscience)
• Recognizing your “Chimp’s” behavior and learning that you are ‘not at the mercy of your emotions’
• Learning the basics of psychological safety and how you’ll need courage to create safe spaces for colleagues and clients.

About Sandra Thompson

Sandra comes to us from the UK, where she is a regular guest on webinars and podcasts, presenting on empathy, leadership, education, the way we work, remote work, and, of course, emotional intelligence. A Tedx speaker, contributing author, trainer, and facilitator, she is the first Goleman Emotional Intelligence coach in the UK.

Meet Sandra Thompson

See her LinkedIn Profile