How Emotional Intelligence Builds Truly Effective Leaders
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Development of Effective Leaders
The Influence of EI on Effective Leadership
Great leaders combine emotional intelligence with other forms of intelligence, such as technical know-how. But emotional intelligence, also known as EI, is what truly sets leaders apart. These people know exactly what the work environment is like, and what the people working in the environment are like. Everyone is appreciated and respected. Instead of using power to get what they want, they truly engage, empathize, and actively listen. Because of this, there is a positive increase in productivity, and in turn, unit and organizational productivity (HBR 2017). By letting people get the job done, leaders with high EI are creating a culture of loyalty and motivation.
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Development of Effective Leaders
The Influence of EI on Effective Leadership
Great leaders combine emotional intelligence with other forms of intelligence, such as technical know-how. But emotional intelligence, also known as EI, is what truly sets leaders apart. These people know exactly what the work environment is like, and what the people working in the environment are like. Everyone is appreciated and respected. Instead of using power to get what they want, they truly engage, empathize, and actively listen. Because of this, there is a positive increase in productivity, and in turn, unit and organizational productivity (HBR 2017). By letting people get the job done, leaders with high EI are creating a culture of loyalty and motivation.
Emotional intelligence consists of many aspects, but the most important are:
- Motivation
- Empathy
- Self-regulation
- Self-awareness
- Social skills
Social skills are necessary for a leader to stop conflicts from happening and encourage teamwork. Let’s take a manager who has to settle conflicts. Such a manager can enjoy a productive and positive civilized atmosphere at work. When stress may arise, such as during busy working periods, emotional self-awareness helps leaders to understand emotional dynamics and adjust as needed. For example, a leader working at a frazzled, stressed level can recognize their work stress, and move to a calm, rational level to make decisions. Self-regulation as a leader is constructive rather than impulsive, as for example, simply being patient and fair for a challenging project. It is the leader’s empathy to spot a member of the team who is struggling and can give more of their attention, support, coaching, or changing roles to allow the person to work alone. Motivation is the positive inner drive to reach a desired goal. In a work setting, emotional intelligence helps to earn the leader’s trust work as a team and be productive.
References
Boyatzis, R. E. (2018). The competent manager: A model for effective performance. John Wiley & Sons.
Cherniss, C. (2010). Emotional intelligence: Toward clarification of a concept. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 3(2), 110–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2010.01217.x
Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. Bantam Books.
Harvard Business Review. (2017). What makes a leader: Why emotional intelligence matters. HBR Press.
Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2004). Emotional intelligence: Theory, findings, and implications. Psychological Inquiry, 15(3), 197–215. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1503_02
Verywell Mind. (2024, March 22). How emotional intelligence impacts leadership. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-emotional-intelligence-impacts-leadership-2795436
MindTools. (2025, November 25). Emotional intelligence in leadership: Learning how to be more aware. https://www.mindtools.com/ah6b7br/emotional-intelligence-in-leadership
Working with emotional intelligence. (1998). Bantam Books.
Great points. Emotional intelligence truly sets effective leaders apart. When leaders understand and manage emotions well, they build trust, handle challenges calmly, and support their teams better.
ReplyDeleteThis blog provides a clear and well structured explanation of emotional intelligence and its significance in leadership. The integration of scholarly sources strengthens the argument, specially in highlighting how EI enhances decision making, teamwork, and organizational outcomes.
ReplyDeleteReally nice post! You do a great job showing how emotional intelligence helps build truly inclusive organisations — in a Sri Lankan state bank, HR leaders with high EI could strengthen trust, manage conflict better, and make teams feel safer and more connected.
ReplyDeleteFantastic topic! Emotional intelligence is definitely a game-changer in leadership, helping leaders connect better, make smarter decisions, and inspire their teams
ReplyDeleteAs someone working in hospitality, I see emotional intelligence in action every day. Guests don’t just remember the facilities—they remember how they were made to feel. A leader in a hotel who practices empathy and self-awareness can inspire the team to deliver service that goes beyond expectations. In stressful moments, whether it’s handling a guest complaint or managing a busy season, leaders who regulate their emotions set the tone for calm, professional responses. Emotional intelligence isn’t just theory for us—it directly impacts guest satisfaction, staff morale, and ultimately the reputation of the hotel. This article captures perfectly why Emotional intelligence is not a ‘soft skill’ but the foundation of truly effective leadership in service-driven industries
ReplyDeleteThis blog post, which fully satisfies academic writing requirements, provides a superb and organized analysis of how emotional intelligence creates truly effective leaders. It outlines the five essential elements of emotional intelligence (EI) (Goleman's model), successfully connects each element to concrete leadership behaviors (such as motivation, fairness, and trust), and references reputable research to back up its assertions.
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