Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
EQ leaders focus on the ball not the player
Emotional Intelligence (EQ), is the ability to recognise, understand and manage one’s moods, emotions and drive, and their effect on others. EQ can be applied to any human endeavour (both at work as well as in our personal lives). By pursuing EQ and CQ coaching, leaders can create inclusive work environments which in themselves, open the way to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).
EQ Traits & Characteristics
Observable vs Unobservable
IQ
What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
EQ is the ability to recognise, understand and manage one’s moods, emotions and drive, and their effect on others. It's the ability to understand and manage emotions effectively which is critical in a leadership position. A person with high EQ is equipped with the capacity to empathise with others and understand their emotional state. While EQ is about increasing your self-awareness, it is also about acceptance of others. EQ skills & abilities help us to navigate social situations, build and maintain relationships and communicate effectively. EQ is a vital skill today where communication and collaboration are hugely important.
How to Lead With
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
-
Leading with EQ means developing an increased awareness that you don't always have all the answers and accepting your views may be mistaken
-
EQ led leaders are able to build (EQ) teams that are inclusive and able to communicate & collaborate effectively especiallly during difficult and challenging times
-
EQ leaders know and understand that when people feel included and have a sense of belonging, they're more likely to be engaged at work and will want the organisation to succeed
-
EQ leaders welcome and celebrate a collective mix of differences. They are very adaptable.
-
Contrast this with non-EQ leaders who often display cognitive biases which include status quo bias; where bosses find it difficult to adapt to changes including leaders who refuse to embrace new ways of working
-
EQ leaders attack the problem not the person - in other words, they focus on the ball, not the player.
Why Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is an Important Leadership Skill
-
PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF - Many leaders are taught how to lead others, how to motivate and inspire others, how to bring out the best in others and yet few are taught to look within themselves first. EQ is becoming increasingly recognised as an important factor in leadership success and an important first step towards creating a collaborative, innovative and inclusive culture
-
Relationship building - EQ is a critical aspect of relationships (both personal as well as professional). It helps managers understand the emotions of their team members leading to better relationships. This is turn, helps to foster trust, respect and a more positive and inclusive work culture
-
Communication skills - EQ managers are able to understand the emotions of others and respond in a respectful, supportive and empathetic manner. They are better equipped to communicate effectively with their team members. This communication can be through: verbal, non-verbal and listening skills
-
One of the biggest EQ strengths is listening – even to those with whom we profoundly disagree. The aim of such conversations is often to listen and understand the other person’s view rather than to persuade them of our view or become persuaded by theirs
-
-
Conflict Resolution - EQ leaders are better equipped in the area of conflict resolutions. They are able to de-escalate situations, be open to having uncomfortable conversations, find common ground, and help team members work through issues effectively
-
Motivating team(s) - The pandemic changed the landscape of work and workers’ views of work and work-life balance. People now expect to work for organisations which offer healthy emotional and inclusive work cultures. Companies that fail to address or make changes to their cultures and leadership styles risk not only losing top talent but also risk creating toxic “only the strongest survive” cultures
-
Purpose driven Talent - Many workers (especially Gen Z) are purpose driven. This means new leadership styles will require a shift from transactional (command & control) management styles to transformational (EQ growth mindset)
-
Self-awareness - EQ is an ongoing process that can lead to improved communication, better relationships, and greater resilience in the face of challenges. It is an essential skill for effective leadership. By undertaking EQ training, managers can develop greater self-awareness which in turn, can help them become more effective leaders.
PODCAST
An Introduction to
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Sources: ExecutiveGlobalCoaching.com, Dr Daniel Goleman
AI Podcast created in: Google Notebook LLM
© 2026 ExecutiveGlobalCoaching.com