Leadership is much more than having business smarts, technical skills and years of experience.
While all of these are important, numerous studies have shown that what distinguishes outstanding leaders is emotional self-awareness and self-control.
Leaders who have the ability to understand emotions have an advantage; where as a lack of emotional awareness among leaders can be devastating to the rest of the workplace. The good news is that a leader can improve emotional intelligence if they are willing to work on it.
Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to recognize and understand one’s feelings and the feelings of others, and then put that information to good use.
As I stated in a previous article in the Gazelle July/August 2019 issue, psychologist Daniel Goleman suggests emotional intelligence competencies are learned capabilities that can be developed, as evidenced in his books “Emotional Intelligence: Why it matters more than IQ” and “Working with Emotional Intelligence.” His model of emotional intelligence states there are five key competencies that drive results.
In this article, we will take a look at each of Goleman’s five competencies and uncover strategies to develop each one to increase effectiveness.
SELF-AWARENESS Leaders who are aware of their strengths, weaknesses and behaviors can better control their reactions and their interactions. What can you do to improve self-awareness?
- Tune into your emotions at work. Understand what they are trying to tell you about a situation.
- Ask trusted colleagues for honest feedback on your strengths and challenges. Honor their feedback and use it to inspire action.
SELF-REGULATION Leaders who regulate themselves effectively can control their emotions, stay aligned in their values, and do not make rushed or emotional decisions. How can you improve your ability to self-regulate?
- Know your values and what’s important to you. Write your personal code of ethics and stick to it.
- Practice impulse control. When faced with a situation, take a deep breath, pause and reflect for a minute to challenge your initial reaction before responding.
SOCIAL SKILLS Leaders with social skills are great communicators. They excel at getting their team’s support and can get people to rally behind a new vision, goal or project. How can you build social skills?
- Communicate in a direct and clear manner. Focus on what the other person needs to hear. Speak to his or her needs and not your own needs or priorities. Check for understanding at the end of the conversation to make sure everyone is on the same page.
- Develop conflict resolution skills so as to not ignore or avoid conflict. Proactively address problems and seek out strategic solutions that get to the main issue.
EMPATHY Having empathy is critical for leaders to effectively manage their team. The more a leader can relate to another’s viewpoint, the better they become at understanding their people. Empathetic leaders more easily earn the respect and loyalty of their team. How can you develop empathy?
- Put aside your viewpoint and ask the other person’s perspective. You might be surprised at what you will uncover that could have potentially been missed.
- Listen with your eyes, ears, instincts and heart so that you can uncover the entire message. Notice nonverbal body language, facial expressions and vocal tone to help you tune into what is being said beyond the spoken word.
MOTIVATION Self-motivated leaders are not motivated simply by title or money, but by achieving goals and setting high standards for the quality of their work. How can you improve your motivation?
- Know your why and stay engaged with “why you do the work you do.” This helps you stay inspired and know your purpose even on the toughest days.
- Be optimistic. Adopt a positive mindset to help manage any problems and uncover the silver lining in every situation.
Developing each of these five key competencies takes time. Start to notice situations where you can practice these skills in your daily interactions. It might take time to build your competencies, but when you do, you will more effectively:
- Manage and diffuse conflict.
- Communicate openly to increase alignment and results.
- Create high-performance teams who work together and get the job done.
- Influence and develop others in positive ways.
- Develop a culture where others feel supported and heard.
Emotional intelligence is a powerful skill that increases a leader’s effectiveness. Growing in emotional intelligence takes patience and persistence, but the results are worth the effort.
Beilsmith is an executive coach and professional development expert recognized for helping high-achieving professionals, teams and leaders reach their true potential through coaching, training and assessments. Visit jennybeilsmith.com for more information.
