Emotional intelligence is no longer just a perk to have in an employee or leader. It’s essential.
Collaboration depends on it. Effective working relationships depend on it. And the ability to be agile, resilient, and innovative in a changing and complex business environment depends on it.
Here are 5 characteristics I’ve found that emotionally intelligent leaders exhibit consistently:
1. Self-awareness—They understand who they are (values, personality traits, how they are inspired, how they are triggered) as well as the impact they have on others.
2. Personal responsibility—They take 100% ownership of what they think, say, and do, including the decisions they make and the outcome of those decisions.
3. Self-mastery—They are perpetual students and grow themselves as people and as leaders, because they know they can’t lead others further than they are themselves.
4. Others-awareness—They maintain a healthy awareness of how those around them are thinking and feeling. They listen and observe where others have perceived limitations, and they illuminate areas of untapped potential.
5. Empathy and trust—While they hold a high standard, they make the choice to see the world through others’ eyes. By doing so, they earn a higher level of trust and respect from those they lead. They don’t enable people or lower the standard; rather, they empower them to step higher.
These skills and competencies CAN be learned. It’s not a personality type, but QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP that anyone can (and should) practice.
They’re also indicators of what it means to be a COACH leader.