The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Business Leadership

You’ll only have to do a little bit of research into what makes a good business leader, and the phrase ‘emotional intelligence’ will crop up. Trust us, it’s a topic that everyone’s talking about. When it comes to what makes a good business leader, emotional intelligence is something that everyone agrees on. You won’t have to scroll too far down the list of what makes a good business leader before emotional intelligence is there. Big, bold letters, for everyone to see.

You can ask business leaders, experts or employees, and everyone will tell you the same thing; that emotional intelligence is key when you’re leading a team. In this blog, we’ve taken a look at what emotional intelligence is and why it’s such an important part of leading a team towards success.

What Does Emotional Intelligence Mean?

A lot of people agree that emotional intelligence is a combination of nature and nurture, and it doesn’t showcase itself the same way for everyone. For a lot of business leaders, emotional intelligence means really tuning in to the needs of employees. For others, it’s more about acting before speaking, and being intentional with the words used. For some people, emotional intelligence is a natural ability, something that comes easily. For others, it’s something that needs to be continually worked on and crafted. But, what is agreed on, is that emotional intelligence helps leads, teams and businesses to thrive.

There’s a lot of research out there that shows that strong, successful leaders tend to be the people with a lot of emotional intelligence. This is because those who are emotionally intelligent find it easier to take responsibility and be aware of your own actions. It gives you the ability to handle your feelings in a positive and constructive way, whilst also dealing with the needs of your team.

Emotional intelligence helps you to care for the emotional needs of your employees and act accordingly, ensuring everyone is satisfied and happy at work. Not only does this make employees feel cared for and valued, but it also encourages them to be engaged, proud of their work and equally emotionally intelligent.

Here’s How You Can Be a More Emotionally Intelligent Leader

• Think Before You Act – As a leader, you might find yourself tempted to jump straight in, without actually listening to what others have to say. You have the experience to lead a team and solve problems, and jumping in is often the ‘go to’ for those in charge. If you take the time to listen and think before you act, you’ll have a better idea of what someone is actually saying. You’ll know how they feel. You’ll have time to reflect and consider your response, rather than rushing in and risking getting things wrong. It’s a lot easier to find a solution that helps everyone if you listen to what everyone has to say.

• Think About Your Reactions – If something happens in the workplace – for example, someone makes a mistake, or a project is at risk of missing the deadline – think about how you could best react to that information. You can’t change how you feel about it, but you can change how you react. There’s no point in blaming yourself or blaming someone else, as this won’t solve the problem. Focus on a reaction that finds a solution.

• Consider Other Perspectives – You are likely to have more industry experience than your employees, but that doesn’t mean their perspectives don’t matter. If you don’t agree with what someone is saying, try to. Think about their needs and feelings. Think about what motivates them. This will give you a better understanding of why they feel the way they do. You won’t get to the bottom of a problem if you rush in, angry and pulling out the “I’m your boss” card. Being emotionally intelligent means trying to understand what happened from someone else’s point of view – remember, they might have a completely different stance to you- and why someone feels that way. All of this will help you to avoid the problem in the future.

• Prioritise Praise – When someone is putting a lot of hard work and time into a project, they want to know that their efforts are being appreciated. Part of being an emotionally intelligent leader is praising other people. Not only does this show employees that you are aware of what they’re doing, but it also helps you to come across as being empathetic. You might even find that praising someone encourages them to open up to you about more serious topics.

• Strive for Greatness – When it comes to emotional intelligence, strive for greatness, but also continually improve. No one likes to be criticised, but it can help you to see things from another point of view. If you receive negative feedback, look at it as a way to improve and grow, rather than someone being critical of you.

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Being Emotionally Intelligent

A lot of leaders focus on results. They focus on completing projects on time, boosting the productivity and effectiveness of their team, and getting as much done as possible. These are all important, but don’t forget about being emotionally intelligent. It plays a huge role in employee, business and team success, as well as the success of you as a leader.

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