What do you do if your leadership abilities could be enhanced by developing emotional intelligence?

Leadership is not just about making decisions and giving orders; it's about understanding and managing your emotions as well as those of your team. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions effectively. Enhancing EI can significantly improve leadership abilities by fostering better communication, empathy, and conflict resolution skills. As a leader, you should consider EI as a critical component for personal and professional growth, as it can lead to more cohesive teams and a more positive work environment.

1 Assess Yourself

Begin by taking a thorough self-assessment to gauge your current level of emotional intelligence. Reflect on how you react to stressful situations, how you manage your emotions, and how you perceive others' emotions. Self-awareness is a cornerstone of EI, and understanding your emotional strengths and weaknesses can help you identify areas for improvement. Consider seeking feedback from peers or mentors to gain different perspectives on your emotional competencies.

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Joseph Linnebur

First Officer / Instructor at Frontier Airlines
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A lot of leaders do well at helping their employees maintain emotional wellness, but tend to forget that they need the same help from someone to keep them grounded. Having an individual you can go to when frustration begins to wear on you is necessary. Also of importance, when you aren’t in a good mental place, that is not the time to be making decisions that can affect others. Being in desolation and making important decisions can hinder making the best choice. Having someone to help you through that or help you make a decision during those difficult times is helpful

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Maxine Legall, MBA, MSW, CPXP

CEO & Founder of Thrive Inclusively | Speaker | Transformative Thought Leader | Leadership Coach & Consultant | Cultural Engagement Expert | Healthcare Innovator | Health Equity Champion
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One of the things that have helped me tremendously in this area is securing an executive coach! Coaching has helped me recognize my strengths, areas for growth and ability to manage my emotions in challenging and stressful situations and seasons. Additionally, coaches have had me complete assessments (360, DISC) that have allowed me to recognize my traits, characteristics and dispositions, and how they impact how I work and interact with others. This has heightened my self awareness.

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2 Seek Training

Once you've identified areas for development, look into emotional intelligence training programs or resources. These can provide structured learning and practical exercises to enhance your EI skills. Training often includes learning how to better understand and empathize with others, which is essential for effective leadership. By investing time in developing your emotional intelligence, you demonstrate a commitment to not only your personal growth but also to the wellbeing of your team.

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3 Practice Mindfulness

Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine to improve your emotional intelligence. Mindfulness involves being fully present and engaged in the moment, which can help you better understand and regulate your emotions. This can lead to improved focus, reduced stress, and better decision-making. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop a more patient and thoughtful leadership style, which will be appreciated by your team.

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João Luiz Pasqual, MCC

Associate Partner at Selion Global | Executive Coach at Coaching Works 4U | Mentor and Coach @ FDC | Master Certified Coach
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To enhance my leadership skills through developing emotional intelligence, I believe mindfulness is a no-brainer practice. Incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine can profoundly impact my ability to understand and manage my emotions. Being fully present and engaged helps in maintaining focus, reducing stress, and making better decisions. Such practices foster a patient and thoughtful leadership style, enhancing interactions and perceptions within my team, ultimately leading to a more harmonious and effective workplace.

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4 Foster Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, and it's a key component of emotional intelligence. To enhance your leadership abilities, actively work on being more empathetic towards your team members. Listen to their concerns, put yourself in their shoes, and respond with compassion. Empathetic leadership fosters trust and loyalty, creating a supportive work environment where everyone feels valued.

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5 Manage Relationships

Effective leaders excel at managing relationships within their teams. Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in building and maintaining healthy professional relationships. Focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, and the ability to motivate and inspire others. By managing relationships with emotional intelligence, you create a collaborative atmosphere that can drive team success.

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6 Reflect Regularly

Finally, make it a habit to reflect on your interactions and leadership approach regularly. Consider how your emotions influenced your behavior and decisions, and think about how you could handle similar situations differently in the future. Continuous reflection helps you stay aware of your emotional responses and ensures that you keep developing your emotional intelligence over time.

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Maxine Legall, MBA, MSW, CPXP

CEO & Founder of Thrive Inclusively | Speaker | Transformative Thought Leader | Leadership Coach & Consultant | Cultural Engagement Expert | Healthcare Innovator | Health Equity Champion
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Your growth and leadership development is a journey not a destination. So reflect regularly. This can be done through journaling, having an accountability partner, coach or mentor and regularly checking in or meeting with them.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your leadership abilities could be enhanced by developing emotional intelligence?

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Assess Yourself

2 Seek Training

3 Practice Mindfulness

4 Foster Empathy

5 Manage Relationships

6 Reflect Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Management

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What do you do if your leadership abilities could be enhanced by developing emotional intelligence?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Yourself

2 Seek Training

3 Practice Mindfulness

4 Foster Empathy

5 Manage Relationships

6 Reflect Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Management

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