In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, leadership requires more than just technical skills and strategic acumen. Emotional Intelligence (EI) has emerged as a critical factor in effective leadership, helping leaders navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, inspire teams, and drive organisational success. Understanding the deeper aspects of EI can significantly enhance leadership effectiveness, particularly in high-stakes environments where human interaction and decision-making are paramount. This is also deeply helpful for me as an executive coach for leadership, communication & business.
Today, I will be observing 3 aspects of EI in my practice. But first —
Why leaders need EI?
Firstly, emotionally intelligent leaders are better equipped to handle the complexities and ambiguities that come with transformational change. They can navigate the emotional undercurrents that often accompany change, such as fear, resistance, and uncertainty. By addressing these emotions head-on, they can reduce friction and foster a culture of resilience and adaptability.
Secondly, leaders with high EI are more effective at building and sustaining high-performing teams. They understand that people are the most valuable asset in any transformation, and they prioritise the well-being and development of their team members. This not only drives engagement and productivity but also ensures that the organisation is equipped with the talent and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Lastly, emotionally intelligent leaders are more adept at building trust and credibility. In times of change, trust is the currency that leaders must earn to rally their teams and stakeholders around a common vision. By demonstrating empathy, transparency, and authenticity, transformational leaders can build the trust needed to drive successful outcomes.
Now some more on this —
- Emotional Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Effective Leadership
According to a study published in The Leadership Quarterly in 2023, leaders who exhibit high emotional self-awareness are 35% more likely to successfully navigate organisational challenges and foster a positive work environment.
Emotional self-awareness is the ability to recognise and understand one’s emotions and how they affect thoughts and behaviour. For leaders, this self-awareness is crucial because it enables them to manage their reactions, make informed decisions, and communicate more effectively with their teams.
From a technical perspective, emotional self-awareness involves the neural processes associated with monitoring and regulating emotional responses. This aspect of EI is deeply connected to the brain’s limbic system, particularly the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions. Leaders with high emotional self-awareness can modulate their amygdala responses, preventing emotional hijacking and allowing for more rational decision-making.
2. Empathy & Care: The Neural Basis of Understanding Others
A 2024 report by Harvard Business Review found that leaders who score high in empathy have teams with 25% higher job satisfaction and 20% lower turnover rates compared to leaders with lower empathy scores.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is another critical component of EI. Technically, empathy involves mirror neurons, which fire when a person observes someone else’s emotional state, allowing them to experience similar emotions. This neural mechanism enables leaders to connect with their team members on a deeper level, fostering trust, collaboration, and loyalty.
In leadership, empathy translates into the ability to perceive and respond to the emotional needs of others. Leaders who demonstrate empathy are better equipped to handle conflict, motivate their teams, and create a culture of inclusivity. The technical understanding of empathy highlights its importance in building strong, cohesive teams that are aligned with organisational goals.
- Emotion Regulation: Managing Stress and Enhancing Resilience
Research published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2024 showed that leaders with strong emotion regulation skills are 30% more likely to successfully lead their organisations through periods of significant change and uncertainty.
Emotion regulation refers to the ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy and productive manner. This aspect of EI is crucial for leaders, as it directly impacts their ability to cope with stress, maintain focus, and make sound decisions under pressure. Emotion regulation involves the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and impulse control.
Leaders who excel in emotion regulation can navigate high-pressure situations with composure, maintain their team’s morale during crises, and adapt to changing circumstances without losing sight of long-term goals. This technical aspect of EI is particularly important in leadership, as it enables leaders to model resilience and stability for their teams.
To conclude this piece, I’d say Emotional Intelligence is not just a soft skill; it is a technical capability that directly influences leadership effectiveness. The World Economic Forum identified Emotional Intelligence as one of the top 10 skills needed in 2025, emphasising its critical role in leadership and organisational success. So, in my opinion, by integrating these aspects of EI into their leadership practices, C-suite leaders can not only improve their own effectiveness but also create a more resilient, engaged, and high-performing organisation and building better second line of leaders.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
Extending beyond academia; Ankoor has been honoured with the "CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE 2024" award by Passion Vista and recognized as the "MAN OF EXCELLENCE, 2024" by the prestigious Indian Achievers' Award. Additionally, he received the "LEADER 2.0 AWARD, 2023" from adgully and was named a "DIGITAL KAIZEN LEADER by DigiAdCon 2024”, Dr. Dasguupta's contributions to the field of marketing are widely acclaimed, marking him as an inspiring thought leader in his domain. Ankoor is also a member of IMA India’s CMO Forum.
Most recently Dr. Dasguupta has been selected and felicitated with the national level award -Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Inspiration Award 2024 in the category Youth Icon of the Year.
Dr. Dasguupta is a key member of the esteemed International CMO Council and keeps delivering lectures at top Business Schools and also colleges at University of Delhi. As an industry expert, Ankoor has also been a member of the interview panel at MICA for their PGP Group Exercise & Personal Interview PI process for PGDM-C/PGDM selection for two consecutive years. Dr. Dasguupta is also on the Advisory Board of the Marketing Department at ISBR Business School, Bangalore. Recognized by DMA Asia as a marketing Ace, Dr. Dasguupta is a LinkedIn Top Voice, advocate of social impact, driven by kaizen, Ankoor believes in the power of Energy and Energize
Dr. Ankoor is practicing his PCC (Level 2) coaching from the gold standard International Coaching Federation [ICF]. He is a people's person and has worked across functions in senior leadership positions in marketing, advertising, media & communication with a pedigree of 24 years and ongoing exciting journey. Trained from Dale Carnegie in Mentoring to Develop Talent, Ankoor is a marketing practitioner, a coach, a knowledge manager, a team builder, a thought-leader, an avid writer with close to 100 published articles / interviews and is a Thought Leader. Dr.Ankoor wears the hat of a CMO as well. His leisure pursuits are reading, effective listening and percussion. Follow Dr. Ankoor Dasguupta on LinkedIn| https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankoordasguupta/
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