When you look at a leader, many are quick to highlight how smart they are. From Steve Jobs to Bill Gates, most leaders are touted as having above average intelligence or coming from environments that fostered their intelligence. Incidentally, while a high I.Q. is good in a leader, it is not the only thing that matters. E.I., also known as emotional intelligence can also have a larger role to play in how great a leader is.
Emotional intelligence stems from how a person is able to receive and perceive their own emotions and the emotions of others around them. In many cases, emotional intelligence is actually a necessary quality for a leader to have since it helps them get the upper hand in the following:
Understanding Non-Verbal Cues
Any interaction with a person includes non-verbal cues as well. From their posture to their body language, emotional intelligence can ensure that the leader is aware of how the person is feeling. In a meeting, a person is more prone to show through their body language whether they are stubborn, impatient, want to leave quickly or they are in agreement with the subject matter and willing to work with them. By reading the room, they can usually gauge their clients and ensure that the decision is favorable for both of them.
Better Idea of Team Capabilities
A leader who has good emotional intelligence will be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their team. This allows them to ensure that they are utilized in such a manner that productivity is not marred. From planning proper team projects to assigning single projects and tasks, a good leader understands their team member’s skill sets. In cases where they feel that the team needs help, they can reach out to other people or provide proper training to train their team with ease.
Inspire Loyalty and Drive
Emotional intelligence in a leader can make them very charismatic and showcase how they interact with others. This, in turn, inspires a certain loyalty and drive from the people who want to work with them. A good example of this can be seen in Steve Jobs. People from all over the world wanted to work in the same company as him because of how well he inspired loyalty. Investors were willing to invest in Apple while Steve Jobs was headlining it because of their confidence in him. In fact, his death caused a decline in Apple stocks, which took a few months to recover from.
Create a Culture of Creativity
Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple are huge examples of companies that have largely been shaped by their leaders. People understand that not only are leaders inspiring creativity in them, they understand the wants and needs of clients and want to offer them more. The perks and benefits that employees get to enjoy while working at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple are largely linked to the emotional intelligence of their leaders.
At the end of the day, emotional intelligence isn’t the only quality that good leaders have but, it does make a huge difference in the kind of leader they can be.
