Many qualities play an important role in leadership success, but perhaps most important is emotional intelligence – the ability to recognize and manage our own emotions, as well as identify the emotional state of others.
Many studies demonstrate the power and importance of emotional intelligence. If you are a leader or you hope to take a managerial position soon and you have not started working on developing your emotional intelligence, it is time to roll up your sleeves. Here’s where to start:
Get to know yourself
To be a good leader, you must first know yourself. The image you have built for yourself is probably different from the way others look at you. The best way to get a realistic picture of yourself is to work with a trusted partner, coach, or mentor. Once you get to know your strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to respond appropriately to the different situations that your leadership will face.
Learn to control your emotions
Every leader must be able to manage his emotional state. In other words, you should not verbally attack others just because you are unhappy with something, or make hasty and emotional decisions because you are under stress. Self-control is based on maintaining calm and maintaining a normal way of communicating – behavior, others will follow if the leader sets a personal example.
Discover your inner motivation
Everyone should be able to motivate themselves, but this is especially important for leaders. This means that you must be constantly aware of your goals and not stop working to achieve them. Intrinsic motivation leads to building high standards and integrity, which allow you to overcome even the most difficult challenges and failures.
Demonstrate empathy and modesty
We live in a world that rewards people for covering up their weaknesses and complexes, but the thing that is worth hiding is your ego. This means that you have to put aside your pride, to choose carefully the battles you wage with others. Even if you do not agree with what your employees say, it is important to listen to them and pay attention to their problems, concerns, and hopes.
Ultimately, emotional intelligence is the ability to feel, understand, and manage human emotions as a source of information, energy, connection, and influence.
If you are a leader but do not know yourself and cannot control your emotional state, then you are constantly at the mercy of your mood. If you do not approach your employees with empathy and understanding, you will not go far in your role as a leader, no matter how competent and intelligent you are.
