Cultivating Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

“By teaching people to tune in to their emotions with intelligence and to expand their circles of caring, we can transform organizations from the inside out and make a positive difference in our world”

— Daniel Goleman

In my experience as a Career and Leadership coach I have spoken to many leaders who find it hard to keep up with the constantly changing business landscape and how to keep their team members motivated and feeling supported.  You can train the technical expertise and ever-changing skills of a leader, but empathy, and leading with empathy, is a human trait that not everyone has.  Even people who have a good level of emotional intelligence can find it hard to find the headspace in a busy work environment to always lead in this way. That said, it is crucial to harnessing the real power of your team to perform at their best.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence 

Emotional intelligence encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management.  It provides leaders with the capacity to understand and manage their own emotions while effectively navigating the emotions of individuals.  Every member of your team will have different needs and emotional triggers, so it takes a great leader to recognise this in each person and understand how best to help support and guide them.

Regulating Your Emotions

Let me share a real-life example that perfectly illustrates the transformative power of emotional intelligence and empathetic leadership:

I once had a client who was frustrated with his team's lack of motivation and perceived it as solely their issue. Through coaching, we delved into his emotions and discovered that his feelings of being disrespected and unheard were stemming from earlier life experiences, which he unknowingly carried into his leadership role. By understanding and regulating his own emotions, he gained clarity and started to consider his team's perspective without his own biases clouding his judgement. This new found awareness revealed that the team's lack of proactivity resulted from unclear direction and poor communication from him.

Realising this, he began to prioritise his team's needs and initiated regular team meetings where he actively listened and allowed his team to voice their views in a safe environment. Simultaneously, he focused on clarifying the team's purpose, providing them with a clear sense of direction. As a result, the team's motivation and creativity flourished, and they felt valued and supported. This transformative journey highlights how nurturing emotional intelligence within oneself can pave the way for empathetic leadership, leading to a happy and successful team that thrives in the ever-changing business landscape.

How can you harness emotional intelligence in the workplace?

Practice Self-Awareness: Pay attention to your emotions and reactions in different situations. See if you can name strong emotions when you feel them. Rather than getting caught up in the narratives you may want to attach to your emotions, be aware of when they arise. Understanding your emotional triggers will help you better manage your responses to challenges and interactions with your team.

Active Listening: Make a conscious effort to practise active listening when interacting with your team members. Avoid interrupting and truly focus on what they are saying. This will help you understand their perspectives and emotions better.

Empathise with Team Members: Put yourself in your team members' shoes and try to understand their feelings and experiences. A helpful way to do this, is to ask questions rather than making assumptions. This will help you build stronger connections and create a more supportive and inclusive work environment. 

Embrace Emotional Vulnerability: Be willing to show vulnerability and express your emotions appropriately. This can create a more open and authentic atmosphere where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions.

Seek Feedback: Ask for feedback from your team regularly. Encourage them to share their thoughts on your leadership style and how you can better support them emotionally. This will demonstrate your commitment to growth and improvement as a leader.

Manage Stress Effectively: Develop healthy stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, exercise, or hobbies, to cope with the pressures of leadership. When you manage your stress well, you are better equipped to handle emotional situations with your team.

Empower Emotional Expression: Create a safe and non-judgmental space for your team members to express their emotions and concerns. Encourage open dialogue and ensure that their emotional well-being is valued.

Lead by Example: Demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathy in your actions and decisions. Your team will be more likely to follow suit if they see you leading with compassion and understanding.

Continuous Learning: Engage in coaching, workshops, seminars, or read books on emotional intelligence and empathy to deepen your understanding and refine your skills as a leader.

By incorporating these tips into your daily practice as a leader, you can enhance your emotional intelligence and empathetic leadership, leading to a more engaged, motivated, and successful team.

Leadership development and coaching can really help to harness your emotional intelligence and empathy to improve your overall personal and team performance. Fortem Coaching can help you build your confidence as a great leader so you feel empowered to understand your individual team members in order to guide them in a positive way. Click here to book your free 30-minute coaching consultation to find out more about how I can help you to become the best leader you can be.