For a long time, emotions and feelings were interpreted as being the “opposite of logic”, although today, we know this is far from the truth. This was evidenced by using phrases such as “think with your head and not with your heart” and by encouraging numerical skills over social skills. For this reason, training in emotional intelligence for leaders has not been a top priority for large companies.
However, as science advances, it has been found that emotions do not function as a separate entity in our interpretation of reality. On the contrary, knowing how to understand and take advantage of them is the key to performing better and adapting to the context. This ability is known as “emotional intelligence”.
Now, in tune with this fast-paced and competitive world, it is common to observe how companies are increasingly immersed in the search for strategies and tools that allow them to stand out in the business world. To this end, one of the Human Resources trends in recent years has been to enhance the skills of leaders and managers, by implementing training that includes emotional management skills.
How to be a good leader?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in management positions. A leader guides and motivates their team to achieve a common goal. They are the people whom others trust and follow because they are a source of inspiration.
But what does a boss need to have to be a leader? Read on to discover why emotional intelligence and leadership go hand in hand. Let’s go!
Beyond IQ: emotional intelligence
In the world of leadership, there is one skill that has been highlighted as essential for success: emotional intelligence. Often, managers focus so much on their tasks and priorities that the emotional aspects and the relationship with their team members become their blind spots.
Being a good leader is not only about having knowledge or a high IQ; besides the main skills in the field, leaders are expected to develop cognitive and social skills that make them stand out.
In other words, to be a good leader, you have to be smart in a different way. And this is where emotional intelligence and leadership are related.
But what is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s and others’ emotions. It was popularised by psychologist Daniel Goleman, who highlighted the importance of these skills in different areas of life, including leadership. This concept is made up of several key aspects:
- Self-awareness: Recognising and understanding our emotions and their effects on our behaviour and decision-making.
- Self-regulation: Managing and controlling our emotions in stressful or challenging situations.
- Empathy: Understanding the emotions and perspectives of others, fostering more effective communication and a positive work environment.
- Social skills: Using this information to relate and connect with others, developing strong and collaborative relationships.
Emotional intelligence for leaders
An effective leader must inspire, motivate, and guide their team to success. To achieve this, they must be able to manage their emotions and those of others, to channel them towards achieving goals and overcoming obstacles.
Research has supported this fact, as it has been found that both the emotions and behaviour of leaders affect and influence the behaviour and emotions of team members. Therefore, fostering emotional intelligence for leaders should be a key part of the strategy for success in the workplace, as it is a skill that will allow them to manage conflicts well and correctly mediate labour relations.
Benefits of emotional intelligence for leaders
Among the advantages of implementing this type of training is that leaders and managers will be able to deploy a series of skills that will facilitate the development of interpersonal relationships within the organisation, which in turn will contribute to improve well-being at work. Among these skills, we can highlight:
- Effective communication: Emotionally intelligent leaders are excellent communicators. They understand how their words and actions affect others, avoiding impulsive responses and seeking to convey clear, positive messages.
- Conflict resolution: Conflict is inevitable in any work environment. However, by applying emotional intelligence training for leaders, they can address them calmly and empathetically, seeking solutions that benefit all parties involved.
- Inspiration and motivation: An emotionally intelligent leader understands how important it is to recognise and reward their team’s achievements. Inspiring and motivating employees creates a positive work environment and increases engagement and productivity.
- Decision-making: Self-regulation is crucial for making informed and rational decisions. Therefore, emotional intelligence and leadership avoid making impulsive decisions and consider the long-term impact and consequences.
- Cultivating a positive environment: Emotionally intelligent leaders create an environment that fosters collaboration, trust, and the mental well-being of team members.
Strategising emotional intelligence for leaders
Enhancing emotional intelligence for leaders is essential for building effective relationships and successfully leading teams. Here are some ways to achieve this:
1. Work on your self-awareness
Self-awareness involves recognising and understanding your own emotions. To develop it, spend time reflecting on your feelings and behaviours. Practice regular self-assessment, to understand your emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. You could also keep an emotional diary to record your feelings and reflect on their origin.
2. Practice self-control
Learn to manage your emotions effectively, avoiding impulsive reactions. To do this, try to pause before responding in emotional situations, and practice techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness, as these can help you stay calm and respond more rationally in times of emotional stress.
3. Increase Empathy
The interface between emotional intelligence and leadership is empathy. That is, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. To do this, try to listen actively to your collaborators, showing genuine interest in their concerns. Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes to understand their perspectives and feelings.
4. Develop social skills
Soft skills are a key part of developing emotional intelligence for leaders, including communicating effectively and collaborating with others. Therefore, foster an environment where communication is open and honest, encouraging collaboration and teamwork and acknowledging and rewarding collective efforts.
5. Work on motivation
Motivation refers to setting goals and working towards them with determination. For this reason, emotional intelligence and leadership are reflected in the extent to which you define clear, challenging, but achievable goals for you and your team. In addition, always remember to praise and celebrate achievements by providing positive feedback.
6. Develop strong relationships
One of the main characteristics of good leadership is the number of strong and lasting relationships created between the leader and their team. Therefore, seek to build relationships based on trust and mutual respect, and try cultivating connections outside of work to strengthen ties and better understand your colleagues.
7. Remember that good communication is key
Communicate your expectations clearly and actively listen to your team’s concerns and suggestions. Remember that emotional intelligence and leadership are related to how much you can communicate difficult messages, always with empathy and tact. To this end, consider emotional and rational aspects when making important decisions. Finally, don’t be afraid to change course if necessary, even if it means acknowledging a mistake.
8. Be authentic
Authenticity is about being yourself. Show your true personality, as this will build trust in your colleagues. Admit when you make a mistake and show humility in doing so. Finally, seek to serve as an example of what you expect from your team regarding emotional intelligence and leadership.
9. Constant personal development
To become an emotionally intelligent leader, we must be under constant development. Participate in personal and professional development programmes, such as emotional intelligence or self-awareness workshops. In addition, seek regular feedback from your colleagues and superiors to constantly improve yourself.
As we have seen, enhancing emotional intelligence tools for leaders also improves organisational culture and team productivity. Therefore, providing these skills as a resource for leaders and managers can make a significant difference in their ability to lead effectively.
Emotional intelligence for leaders and mental well-being for companies
In conclusion, emotional intelligence for leaders is for anyone who aspires to positively impact their team and organisation. By cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation, you can improve your ability to communicate, inspire and guide others to success.
Ifeel has tailored mental well-being solution for companies to make the mental health of their employees a key part of their corporate culture. Through this solution, HR managers can receive personalised (and data-driven) advice on improving their leadership and therefore look after the human capital they are responsible for.
Remember that effective leadership is not just about numbers and results, but also about building strong relationships and a healthy working environment for all. We hope you found this post on emotional intelligence for leaders interesting. If you would like more information about ifeel’s mental well-being platform, simply request it, and we will contact your team as soon as possible.
