Emotional intelligence plays a key role in leadership, good leaders are those who never lose control, who have self-confidence and face challenges, set aside personal problems, listen to their subordinates, are communicative, and research before making their decisions to assess their impact.
Leadership is a skill that we need to develop, because at some point we will have the opportunity to put it into practice, whether as parents, teachers, therapists, entrepreneurs, etc. , so it is necessary to take into account the implications of emotional activity. intelligence to develop the necessary skills.
- Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and deal with your own emotions and those around you.
- People with a high degree of emotional intelligence know how they feel.
- What their emotions mean.
- And how they can affect others.
Emotional intelligence is essential to successful leadership. Who is the best leader: the one who yells at your team when stressed, or the leader who calmly monitors and evaluates the situation?
According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist who helped popularize IE, there are five main elements:
? Self
? Self-control
? Motivation
? Empathy
? Social skills
The more able the leader is to manage each of these areas, the greater their emotional intelligence.
Get to know yourself, your emotions, and how they affect the people around you. To be a good leader is also to know your strengths, weaknesses and to be humble.
How can you improve your self-knownness?
? Keep a diary to improve your self-awareness. Take a few minutes a day to record your thoughts and emotions.
? It doesn’t matter what the situation is. Consider the reason for your emotions and choose the best way to respond.
Leaders who exercise effective self-control do not argue, do not make hasty decisions or make emotional decisions, do not see people as stereotypes, and do not devalue them. Self-control helps build good relationships between people.
This element of the IE, according to Goleman, also covers a leader’s flexibility and commitment to personal responsibility.
How can we improve self-control?
? Know your values and take the time to review your ‘code of ethics’. Knowing your values well, you won’t have to think twice about how to handle a moral decision.
? Taking responsibility without blaming others when something is wrong Admit your mistakes and assume the consequences.
? Respond calmly to difficult situations; control your emotions and situations appropriately.
Motivated leaders are constantly working to achieve their goals and their work is subject to very high quality standards.
How can you improve your motivation?
? Think about what you do and why you do it. It’s easy to forget what we really like and why we chose it. It is good to review and update the objectives; encourages us to move on.
? Know your posture and understand why you are motivated or not.
Whatever the problems, be optimistic and always look for the best. This attitude requires discipline, but it’s worth it. Whenever you face a challenge, or even a disappointment, try to see something good in this experience.
Empathy is essential to managing a successful and organized team. Empathetic leaders are able to put themselves in each other’s place; help members of your group develop, formulate constructive criticism, and listen to those in need.
If you want to earn people’s respect and loyalty, you have to be empathetic.
How to improve empathy?
? Put yourself in the other person’s place and understand your point of view.
? Pay attention to body language, through which the person shows how they feel.
? Respect the other person’s feelings, be receptive, and speak in a way that feels understood.
Leaders who master the social skills of the IE are excellent communicators, do not fear good news or bad news and are specialists in gaining the support of others for a new mission or project, handle changes and conflicts very well.
How to develop social skills?
? Learn how to resolve conflicts
? Improving communication skills
? Learn to recognize and value the work of others
The best leader is the one who works and interacts with others, has a solid understanding of their feelings and how they affect others.
Take the time to improve your self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy and social skills. Each person has their own time.
All these skills will allow you to excel in the future and manage leadership situations, whether in your family, at school, at work or in the environment in which you live.