How to be empowered by your emotions as a leader

In a high-stakes world of leadership and decision-making, the focus often shifts towards efficiency and results. While these are undoubtedly important, other strategies for successful leadership, such as a human-centred approach to leadership, can sometimes be overlooked. As a leader, you will inevitably find yourself in positions where you feel overwhelmed by your emotions—regardless of whether they’re caused by external or internal factors. But what if you learned how to harness those emotions and instead used them to enhance your leadership abilities? Understanding how your emotions affect your leadership is a crucial first step to learning how to leverage your emotions. By learning about and working with your emotions, you can use them as tools to build and inspire your team. Seeing how a human-centred approach to leadership cannot exist without taking into consideration the role emotions play in interpersonal relationships, it’s important to first understand what emotional intelligence means.

What is emotional intelligence? According to Oxford Languages, emotional intelligence is “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” First coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey and later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman, the term essentially refers to a person’s ability to understand and regulate their emotions along with those of other people. In an interview with Harvard Business Review, Goleman explains how emotional intelligence is vital for leaders and states that without emotional intelligence, a person simply will not be a great leader. The five components of emotional intelligence that Goleman describes include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation (beyond monetary benefits), empathy, and social skills in managing networks and relationships.

1. Self-awareness
   Self-aware leaders understand their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions and the effect this has on them and their team. This knowledge provides clarity that can enable them to navigate complex situations with more confidence. By being aware of their limitations, self-aware leaders can work on themselves to become even better leaders.
2. Self-regulation
   Being able to regulate your emotions is a necessary skill for anybody to have. It’s even more important for leaders because not only do leaders have to manage their own emotions but also consider those of others around them.
3. Motivation
   Emotionally intelligent leaders are passionate about their work. Goleman describes this motivation as going beyond simply making money. This enthusiasm ignites their sense of purpose and acts as a source of motivation even during challenging circumstances.
4. Empathy
   Empathetic leaders can connect with their team members on a personal level by fostering trust, loyalty, and open communication in their organization. By showing genuine concern for their team members’ well-being, leaders can create an environment where people feel understood and appreciated.
5. Social Skills
   Having good social skills is crucial for leaders to be able to manage the complexities of human interactions that occur on a team. These skills also ensure leaders can communicate and resolve conflicts efficiently. According to Forbes, leaders who lack social skills can have detrimental effects on their organization, including a disengaged workforce that undermines company culture.

6 ways to increase your emotional intelligence 

While developing high emotional intelligence may feel challenging at times as you’re forced to confront your own emotions and decision-making, it is a key aspect of a human-centred approach to leadership. Don’t forget that practicing compassion for yourself throughout your journey is part of becoming an emotionally intelligent leader. Here are 6 strategies you can use to increase your emotional intelligence:

1. Practice self-regulation
   Being able to pause and reflect on your emotions is an attribute of an emotionally intelligent leader. Mindfulness exercises such as meditation or journaling can help you become more in tune with your emotions. You can also seek feedback from trusted colleagues and team members and gain a deeper understanding of your emotional strengths and areas for improvement.
2. Encourage creativity
   Let your team members know you are open to new ideas. When leaders involve their team members in the decision-making process, they create an environment where creativity and new ideas are encouraged. Research shows that emotionally intelligent leaders foster environments where employees have growth opportunities, which results in more creative solutions. Encourage your team members to try new things since learning a new skill can open your perspective and help you think about things differently.
3. Increase your emotional self-awareness
   Recognizing and naming your own emotions can help you recognize those emotions in others, allowing you to be more empathetic and considerate in your interactions. You can practice naming your emotions by reflecting in the moment how you are feeling. If you struggle with identifying your emotions, a Feelings Wheel can help you categorize your emotions.
4. Validate your team members’ experiences
   Emotionally intelligent leaders recognize the emotions of others and can validate the experiences of their employees. Being able to see where others are coming from allows you to make more empathetic decisions. This is especially important from a human-centred approach to leadership perspective, as being empathetic to your team members will create a more close-knit environment.
5. Don’t shy away from challenges
   As a leader, the ability to face challenges head-on is essential for innovation and growth. Your reaction to these situations will influence how your employees react as well. Tackling tough challenges with confidence and positivity sets a powerful example for your team members and by viewing obstacles as learning opportunities, you can inspire your team to proactively handle problems.
6. Reflect on your desires
   What motivates you? Where do your passions lie? These are great questions to ask yourself to figure out what your drive is. Your motivations provide the foundation for your behaviour, so being able to recognize what they are will help you make more informed decisions in the workplace. Asking your employees what their motivations are will also help you boost their satisfaction and engagement.

Building emotional intelligence takes time and practice, but the results of being empowered by your emotions are worth it. When leaders have high emotional intelligence, they create a positive environment where ideas can emerge and be nurtured. After all, when we strive to be the best version of ourselves, we inspire others to do the same.