What Are The Top 5 Characteristics of Emotional Intelligence In Good Leadership?

There’s a difference between leaders showing emotion and leaders being emotionally reactive. Shedding a tear or two in your office when you find out that a big project launch has catastrophic crashes isn’t a bad thing; wailing about the injustice of it all and how so-and-so is to blame for everything going wrong generally is.

Emotionally intelligent leaders know how to handle their own emotions; they don’t put them onto others by blaming, shaming, getting aggressive, playing the victim or making brash decisions in the heat of the moment. 

When employees feel responsible for the emotions of their leaders, it creates a toxic work environment in which nobody can truly thrive. 

Let us look at top 5 characteristics of Emotionally Intelligent Leaders to give this more perspective;

1. Empathetic

Being empathetic is not to be confused with being sympathetic. Sympathy is the sharing of feelings with another person, while empathy is the understanding of feelings. Being empathetic is one of the key factors of being emotionally intelligent. Understanding why an employee is sad, upset, or frustrated can help get to the root of a problem. When the problem is identified, then emotionally intelligent people can then push forward towards a solution. Being empathetic can be as simple as asking, “How are you doing today?”

2. Motivation

A leader should not only direct or manage but inspire. As a leader, when your employees see that you have a strong desire to exceed previous goals, they become motivated. Passion triggers others to work harder, stay focused, and outperform as a team. Implementing a reward system can help motivate yourself and others. Some organizations provide rewards like a paid day off, gift cards, or a free lunch.

3. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is one of the most important characteristics to have as a supervisor. By acknowledging your limitations, you can begin to take steps to improve. Measures that you can take as a team leader to be more self-aware can include asking for feedback and reflecting on your actions at the end of the day.

4. Appreciation

Showing appreciation for your employees assures them that their hard work is being recognized. Employees feel valued, and feeling appreciated inspires employees to stay longer at a company. Leaders acknowledging others can also cause a ripple effect and increase workplace morale. Appreciation for your workers can be as simple as congratulating them on the work they completed on a project.

5. Self-Regulation

When a conflict arises, for example, if an employee begins raising their voice, a knee-jerk reaction may be to retaliate by raising your voice as well. When leaders begin managing emotions, they will not react impulsively. Instead, they will remain calm, express options if an employee continues to behave in such a manner and work towards a positive outcome. Being able to control your emotions can leave little room for error and make a leader more adaptable. When you learn to regulate emotions, if mastered, can become a talent not only in a work environment but at home as well.

If you are a leader interested in harvesting emotional intelligence as a skill, start by developing self-awareness. When you know yourself then process your emotions won’t be as difficult.

Looking for tools to help you master your emotional intelligence? Then this EQ course is for you! Sign up today!