Everyone’s got their Tipping Point - Leading with Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
- Miriam Mukasa - Inclusive Leadership & AI
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
Their silent exchange reflected the depth of their bond – a relationship built on trust, empathy, and openness.
Not long ago, while jogging in a nearby park, I happened to come across two women; one visibly distressed, the other gently consoling her and wiping away her tears. No words were exchanged; just someone who was able to make another feel safe and secure. Their silent exchange reflected the depth of their bond – a relationship built on trust, empathy, and openness. It was a powerful scene that has stuck with me.
Having grown up in and lived in various countries with differing attitudes towards emotional expression, I’ve come to appreciate cultures that welcome emotional openness. While not all of us are comfortable expressing our emotions, cultures that welcome emotional displays allow individuals to be themselves leaving people to choose how, when, where and with whom, to share joy or pain.
Women still carry the majority of caregiving duties - including married women – and they often face impossible choices between work and family.
Of course there’s often a time and place however, in many workplaces, far too many people suffer in silence, hiding emotions behind a mask as soon as they walk through the front doors often due to workplace culture or, a lack of empathetic leadership. Some may fear revealing personal struggles, caregiving responsibilities, painful medical treatments, family bereavement, mental health struggles and more.
According to the McKinsey Report ‘Women in the Workplace 2022, for every woman at the director level who gets promoted to the next level, two women directors are choosing to leave their company.
Women still carry the majority of caregiving duties - including married women – and they often face impossible choices between work and family. Is it any wonder that organisations are losing talent at the peak of their career journey often because many leaders refuse to adapt to changing realities and the growing need for flexibility. According to the McKinsey Report ‘Women in the Workplace 2022, for every woman at the director level who gets promoted to the next level, two women directors are choosing to leave their company.
As demographics evolve and pressures on caregivers increase, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) among leaders becomes critical
Fast changing demographics mean this trend is likely to continue and if anything, there will be more pressure as is currently being experienced by the so called sandwich generation – those caring for both children as well as, their elderly parents. In the UK, the NHS and social services are only able to function because of the millions of “volunteers” often family members (though not always), who step in to plug the gap. Many do so because of love and because there’s just no other choice.
Emotionally intelligent leaders recognise and respond to changing trends, fostering supportive and inclusive environments.
As demographics evolve and pressures on caregivers increase, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) among leaders becomes critical. In its simplest terms, EQ is the ability to understand & manage our emotions while recognising and influencing the emotions of others. An important component of EQ is empathy – a skill that is useful in our private as well as professional lives – and this should be prioritised.
Emotionally intelligent leaders recognise and respond to changing trends, fostering supportive and inclusive environments. The irony is, when people quit work and become self-employed, they often work double the hours they did in the office. People are willing to put in the hours.
Leaders who possess emotional intelligence are adept at handling stress, navigating conflicts, and motivating their teams effectively. They recognise that everyone has a tipping point – the moment when stress or pressure becomes overwhelming – and to counter this, they strive to create a supportive environment that mitigates such stressors.
EQ Leaders are Inclusive leaders who view differences (both visible as well as invisible), as an opportunity to drive innovation, creativity, growth and retention. We call this the ‘EQ+CQ=DQ’ methodology.
At ExecutiveGlobalCoaching we use a three-pronged approach: emotional awareness and empathy (EQ); cultural understanding and adaptability (CQ) and; valuing diversity in creating inclusive environments and systems (DQ).
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