Emotional Intelligence and Leadership: the Winning Duo for Companies

According to a recent study, emotional intelligence (EI) is responsible for 58% of professional performance. And 90% of the most successful leaders have a high emotional quotient. Today's demands on leaders go far beyond mere technical and strategic skills. They also need to master emotional skills. What role do emotions play in leadership? What are its concrete benefits within an organisation? And what strategies can be put in place to develop this relational skill? Emotional intelligence and leadership: all the answers in this article.

What is emotional intelligence?

General definition

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, understand and manage one's own emotions, as well as those of others. Introduced by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, the concept was popularised by American psychologist Daniel Goleman, who identified it as a key factor in management success.He then defined five pillars of emotional intelligence:

• Self-awareness: The ability to recognise one's own emotions and understand their impact on decision-making.
• Self-control: Ability to manage stress and impulsive reactions in the face of adversity.
• Motivation: The ability to transform emotions into a driving force for successful projects.
• Empathy: The ability to understand and feel the emotions of others.Social skills: Ability to interact effectively with others and unite your team around a common goal.

Rational intelligence (IQ) VS emotional intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence differs from intellectual intelligence, which is more often associated with analytical skills.Studies show that EQ is a better predictor of professional success than IQ. And for good reason: a leader can be intellectually brilliant, but if he can't manage his emotions and those of his team, his effectiveness will be limited. So it's important to find the right balance.

Why is emotional intelligence essential for an effective leader?

1. Team motivation

A leader with high emotional intelligence knows that motivation at work is not based solely on financial incentives or performance targets. Emotional well-being and recognition also play an important role. The reason:

• A working climate based on trust encourages teams to express themselves freely, put forward ideas and take the initiative.
• Valuing individual effort stimulates intrinsic motivation.
• Emotional support boosts employee commitment.

2. Change management

Regardless of the sector in which they operate, all organisations today are subject to change. Change can generate stress for managers, as well as resistance from employees. Transformational leadership therefore requires emotional intelligence to :

• Managing stress to avoid impulsive decisions
• Use active listening and empathy to understand and allay employees' fears.
• Promote a lasting impact by involving employees in the project.

3. Conflict resolution

Conflicts are inevitable in any organisation, but the way they are managed makes all the difference. An emotionally intelligent leader knows how to ease tensions. This is achieved by :

• Actively listening to each party's point of view, without judgement.
• Establishing an open, constructive dialogue.
• Maintaining a positive frame of mind and seeking lasting solutions.
• Fostering a genuine connection between the people involved.

4. Improved communication

Good management is based on clear, open and benevolent communication. A leader with strong interpersonal intelligence :

• Practices active listening, paying close attention to verbal and non-verbal messages.
• Communicates clearly and assertively, avoiding misunderstandings and ambiguities.
• Provide constructive feedback to improve employee performance.
• Promotes mutual understanding within teams.

5. Strengthening performance and team cohesion

A well-run team, where interpersonal relationships are healthy and balanced, performs better and is more cohesive. According to a Google study ("Project Aristotle"), teams where trust and psychological security reign are the most effective. This is made possible by a leader who :

• Encourages collaboration and goodwill.
• Values individual skills and ensures that everyone feels recognised.
• Facilitates collective intelligence, by creating a framework conducive to the exchange of ideas and the co-construction of solutions.

6. Reduced risk of burn-out

Deadline pressure, team management, strategic responsibilities, mental workload... Leaders are subject to intense pressure, which can have an impact on their mental health. A high level of emotional intelligence enables them to better manage this stress and avoid burnout. How can we achieve this? Thanks to :

• Stress management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and physical exercise.
• Emotional distancing that helps you step back from stressful situations.
• The ability to delegate to avoid mental overload.

7. Informed decision-making

Research from Yale University reveals that emotionally intelligent leaders make better decisions under pressure. And for good reason: an emotionally intelligent leader :

• Avoid impulsive decisions, understanding negative as well as positive emotions.
• Makes choices that are more in line with the reality on the ground, taking into account the feelings and needs of his team.

How do you measure and evaluate your emotional intelligence?

Today, there are several tests and tools available to help you identify your strengths and areas for improvement in terms of emotional intelligence:

• ECI (Emotional Competence Inventory) developed by Daniel Goleman
• EQ-i 2.0 (Emotional Quotient Inventory)
• MSCEIT (Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test)

The best approach is to supplement these self-assessment tests with 360° feedback. In other words, anonymous feedback from employees on the leader's emotional and relational skills. The idea? Align self-perception and perception of others.

How can you develop your emotional intelligence as a leader?

Introspection techniques

The first step to good emotional intelligence is self-awareness. The best-known technique for identifying and understanding emotions is journaling. This involves recording emotional triggers and their impact on behavior. The aim? Identify repetitive emotional patterns.

Emotional management strategies

Identifying and understanding your emotions is a good start, but it's not enough to develop high emotional intelligence. Managing emotions is also essential. There are several techniques and exercises to help you do this:

• Meditation, deep breathing and mindfulness to regulate stress
• Emotional pause to calm impulsive reactions
• Positive reformulation to transform a failure into a learning opportunity

Improved rapport with others

Emotional intelligence also depends to a large extent on how you relate to others. This means developing your skills in :

• Active listening: Concentrate fully on the other person without interrupting.
• Reformulation: Check your understanding of the speaker's emotions.
• Non-violent communication (NVC): Expressing feelings without judgment.
• Constructive feedback: Know how to give and receive feedback in a benevolent manner.
• Etc.

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence and leadership are inextricably linked. EI has a positive influence on team motivation, conflict management, effective communication, collective performance, change management...Improving your emotional intelligence for leadership means developing your self-confidence, learning to regulate your emotions, strengthening your empathy, adopting an open and positive state of mind... All these behavioral skills can be developed through coaching sessions:

• Personalised diagnosis: The coach adapts his support to your real needs, your personality, your career path, your personal life...
• Practical exercises: role-playing, practical tools adapted to your professional environment...
• Follow-up and adjustments: The coach gives you an outside view and supports your progress with constructive feedback.

Need coaching? CoachHub offers personalised coaching programmes to help leaders develop their emotional intelligence. Make emotional intelligence and leadership a winning duo to become an authentic, high-performance leader!