EI Is The New IQ
In part one, we talked about why empathy is essential for leadership and how it plays a key role in fostering inclusion. Now let’s take a deeper dive into how emotional intelligence specifically helps create inclusive leadership—and how you can develop these skills to make inclusion a part of your leadership DNA.
Emotionally intelligent leaders have a unique ability to tune into the emotional needs of their teams. They understand the importance of not only respecting diversity but also creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. For them, leadership is about making sure that everyone has a seat at the table and feels safe sharing their perspectives.
Leaders who practice empathy are able to create trust and build stronger connections within their teams. They actively listen, understand the struggles their team members might face, and use that information to guide decisions that promote fairness and inclusion. This isn’t just about being nice—it’s about understanding how emotions impact the workplace and using that knowledge to drive positive change.
Moreover, emotionally intelligent leaders are aware of their own biases. They know that everyone comes to the table with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives—and they take that into account when making decisions. This self-awareness helps leaders create more inclusive policies and practices, ensuring that no one is left out.
Developing Emotional Intelligence: A Journey, Not A Trait
The good news is that emotional intelligence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you can work on and improve. As a leader, developing EI isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s a continuous process that requires effort and self-reflection. But the payoff is huge: Emotionally intelligent leaders are more effective, more inclusive, and better equipped to handle challenges.
Here are a few practical ways to build emotional intelligence:
- Listen actively: Don’t just hear—really listen to your team. Pay attention to their emotions and respond in ways that show you understand their feelings. This is key for building trust and connection.
- Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness exercises—like meditation or deep breathing—help you stay aware of your own emotional responses and keep them in check, especially during tough situations.
- Check your biases: We all have biases, however, in a business context it is our responsibility to consciously evaluate whether these biases are learned, earned or even relevant in our current environments. Often, the answer is no—they’re unnecessary. That’s why it’s crucial for leaders to examine and challenge their biases when making decisions, ensuring they are not a barrier to good leadership.
- Get feedback regularly: Ask for feedback from your team and peers. Understand how your actions affect others and where you can improve in terms of empathy and emotional awareness.
- Seek out EI training: There are lots of resources—books, workshops and even coaching programs—that can help you develop your emotional intelligence. These programs can give you tools to better understand and manage your emotions, as well as those of your team.
Developing emotional intelligence isn’t something that happens overnight, but it’s worth the effort. The more you work on it, the better you’ll become at fostering a strong organization where teams are supported, heard, and able to contribute to an increased bottom line.
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