Why Leaders with Higher EQ Are More Effective

Gauri Indurkar

corporate trainer

“Great leaders move us. They ignite our passion and inspire the best in us. When we try to explain why they are so effective, we speak of strategy, vision, or powerful ideas. But the reality is much more primal: Great leadership works through the emotions.” – Daniel Goleman

The word “leader” inherently implies the role of guiding others – and the term “others” underscores the importance of people in leadership. Emotional intelligence (EQ), defined as the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others, plays a pivotal role in effective leadership. Our emotions are an intrinsic, inseparable part of our humanity, making EQ a critical asset for any leader. A leader with high EQ is not only attuned to their own feelings but also deeply understands and responds to the emotions of their team. The best leaders are those who can navigate the ever-evolving emotional landscape of their people, creating a sense of trust and cohesion. In fact, EQ is not just a valuable trait but an essential one for leaders who wish to inspire, motivate, and lead effectively.

Leaders with high EQ are able to:

1. Analyze Personalities: High EQ leaders have a deep self-awareness and an ability to analyze others with precision. By understanding the personalities, strengths, and motivations of their team members, they can place people in roles where they’ll thrive and maximize productivity with minimal resistance. This emotional insight helps leaders create an environment of trust and cooperation.
2. Achieve the Golden Mean: Leaders with high EQ are skilled at weighing the pros and cons of any given situation. This ability to analyze both sides and assess potential outcomes allows them to make balanced decisions that benefit as many stakeholders as possible. By crafting win-win situations, they promote harmony, which is crucial for the smooth and effective running of any organization.
3. Utilize the Right Communication Style: Knowing the audience is key to effective communication. Leaders with high EQ understand how to tailor their communication to fit the emotional tone and needs of the people they are addressing. This personalized approach fosters trust and ensures clarity, enabling leaders to achieve their goals while minimizing misunderstandings.
4. Create Value Propositions: Leaders with high EQ understand the nuances of actions and decisions, recognizing how they impact various individuals and situations. Their ability to analyze these outcomes helps them create higher value propositions, driving long-term success for their organizations.
5. Cultivate Clarity of Thought: Clear thinking arises from the ability to consider a situation from multiple perspectives. Leaders with high EQ have a knack for articulating clear, structured action plans that inspire confidence in their teams. This eliminates ambiguity, leading to effective decision-making and action.
6. Resolve Conflicts: Conflict is an inevitable part of human interaction, but leaders with high EQ approach it as an opportunity for resolution rather than confrontation. By empathizing with all parties involved and understanding their feelings, they are able to reduce friction and foster a culture of collaboration. This leads to stronger team dynamics and improved productivity.
7. Establish Amiable Boundaries: Effective leaders with high EQ understand the importance of setting and maintaining boundaries while still fostering strong relationships. This balance allows them to create healthy, mutually respectful connections with their stakeholders, ensuring that relationships remain positive and sustainable.
8. Be Approachable: People are more likely to approach leaders they feel they can trust and connect with. Leaders with high EQ create an open, approachable atmosphere, where team members feel understood and heard. This allows for meaningful, constructive conversations that help address issues at their core.
9. Be a People’s Leader: The era of authoritarian leadership is waning. Today, studies in human psychology have shown that people are more motivated when they feel respected, understood, and secure in their environment. Leaders with high EQ are able to create a supportive, open atmosphere that promotes collaboration and engagement, fostering a high-performing team culture.
10. Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability: In the fast-paced world of modern business, flexibility and adaptability are indispensable leadership traits. Leaders with high EQ have the ability to adjust their approach to meet the changing needs of the environment and their teams, ensuring sustained success in dynamic conditions.
11. Connect the Dots: Effective leaders are able to see the big picture and connect the dots across various personalities, competencies, cultures, and business dynamics. By aligning resources with the organization’s unified goals, they create a coherent, collective vision that propels the organization forward.

In contrast, leaders with low EQ may fail to leverage the strengths of their teams, even if they possess high IQ. They may excel in individual tasks but struggle to inspire, motivate, and manage others effectively. Emotional intelligence isn’t just a desirable trait for leadership—it is a foundational quality for those who wish to lead with impact. As Fyodor Dostoevsky, the Russian philosopher, once said, “It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently”—perhaps, it is emotions that truly elevate leadership to its highest form.