There is a connection between one’s emotional intelligence and their ability to lead. In recent years, more attention has been paid to the connections that exist between emotional intelligence and leadership. Those who have higher than average EQs tend to be very skilled when it comes to management, putting people at ease, and finding a balance between work and their personal lives.
These people tend to be straightforward when it comes to explaining how they feel, and not only are they good at building relationships, but they are also good at mending broken relationships as well.
To understand the role of emotional intelligence within leadership, it is crucial to become familiar with the phenomenon known as participative management. This is a style of management that emphasizes the importance of developing initiative at the beginning of a project.
In today’s employment scenario, this type of relationship building is quite important, because many institutions value the interdependency that exists among groups. In the past, while a heavy emphasis was placed on one’s IQ, today more people are paying attention to a manager’s ability to listen, cooperate with others, and build strong relationships.
While IQ has its place, EQ should never be underestimated in the work place. A strong leader is an individual who is able to control their impulses. One of the strongest components of a leader is a person who can put others at ease.
When you meet people for the first time, they may be shy or reserved in your presence, particularly if you’re a person of authority. As a leader, your goal should always be to put people at ease. In business, this is very important.
If you are negotiating a deal, and you are unable to put your potential partners at ease, you will run into a number of different problems. Putting people at ease is directly related to being able to control your impulses. Another mark of a leader who has high emotional intelligence is an individual who is very self aware. Self awareness is the key to strong leadership.
The Power of Self Awareness
A manager who is self aware is a person who is aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. In addition to this, they are also aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their subordinates. There is a direct connection between one’s self awareness, and their ability to handle stress as well as controlling their impulses.
A person who becomes angry easily is someone who generally does not have a great deal of self awareness. If you become very anxious when encountering difficult situations, then again, this is a sign that you probably don’t have a great deal of self awareness. Being able to balance work and play is an extremely important component of emotional intelligence.
We have all heard of the saying that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." This is true in more ways than one. Those who spend too much time working and too little time enjoying the fruits of their labor tend to see a reduction in their effectiveness.
A leader that knows when to kick back and take a break is a leader who is highly effective. These individuals also showed higher levels of empathy when compared to those who were described as being workaholics, or people who worked constantly.
Being able to find balance is an important part of emotional intelligence, and it is directly connected to effective leadership qualities. Leaders who have balance can build strong relationships with those that follow them.
Straightforward and Composed
Another emotional intelligence trait in a leader is their ability to be straightforward. Rarely do these individuals "beat around the bush." They say exactly what they feel, regardless of what others think. While some people criticized such individuals for being blunt, they tend to be very honest.
Rarely do they lose their composure. When a crisis arises, they tend to remain cool, calm, and very collective. In general, people feel safe and confident when they work with these individuals, largely due to the confidence these people have in themselves.
