Good morning, class. Today, we are going to talk about emotional intelligence in leadership. Now, you might think that being a good leader is just about making smart decisions or knowing your job really well, but there is another side that is just as important. That is emotional intelligence, or EQ for short. Emotional intelligence is about understanding your own emotions, managing them effectively, and also recognising and responding to the emotions of others. Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better at motivating teams, handling conflicts, and building strong workplace relationships.
Psychologist Daniel Goleman identified four main parts of emotional intelligence that are key for leaders. The first is self-awareness. Self-awareness means knowing your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, and understanding how your actions affect others. For example, imagine a manager who realises they get impatient under stress. By recognising this, they can control their tone during high-pressure meetings and keep the team calm and focused. Leaders who are self-aware can also learn from feedback and make better decisions.
The second part is social awareness. This is about understanding other people’s emotions and being sensitive to group dynamics and cultural differences. Socially aware leaders can pick up on emotional cues and respond appropriately. For example, if a normally active team member becomes quiet, a socially aware leader might check in privately and learn that the employee is going through personal issues. They can then adjust workloads temporarily to support the team member, which builds trust and morale.
The third part is self-management. This is about controlling impulses, managing stress, and adapting to changes while staying professional. Leaders who can manage their own emotions set a calm example for their team. For instance, if there is a sudden IT outage, a leader who stays composed and focuses on solutions will keep their team productive, rather than letting frustration take over.
Finally, we have social skills. These are about building relationships, communicating effectively, managing conflicts, and influencing others. Leaders with strong social skills create collaboration, motivate their teams, and guide people through changes smoothly. For example, if two employees are in conflict, a leader with good social skills can mediate the situation, encourage open dialogue, and restore teamwork.
In conclusion, emotional intelligence is a vital part of effective leadership. By developing self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and social skills, leaders can handle their own emotions, understand and support their teams, and drive organisational success. In today’s fast-paced and people-focused business world, emotional intelligence can be just as important as technical skills or experience.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain what emotional intelligence is, describe Goleman’s four key competencies, and understand why EQ is essential for effective leadership in business.
