Leading with emotional intelligence

Effective leadership goes beyond just managing tasks and projects. It involves understanding and empathising with employees’ needs, motivations, and challenges. In this article, we explore the importance of empathetic leadership

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Forbes

Employees thrive under leaders who can empathise with their challenges, acknowledge their contributions and collaborate on finding optimal solutions. For managers and leaders, this requires balancing emotional intelligence with performance management. Empathetic leadership not only boosts engagement in the workplace but also fosters trust and collaboration among teams.

Demonstrate good listening

We’re all aware of the importance of active listening skills, but how often do we dedicate time to develop or refresh them? It’s essential to regularly analyse our active listening skills, genuinely listening to and considering others’ perspectives with an open attitude.

As you listen, focus on understanding the values and emotions underlying the facts being shared. Communicate your understanding of their feelings to assure them that their emotions and values are truly understood.

Make connections

When you demonstrate a willingness to support your employees and acknowledge their efforts, you’re leading with emotional intelligence, showing that you care about them as individuals. This act of caring builds trust between leaders and their team members.

Research indicates that today’s most successful leaders prioritise kindness in the workplace and are more “person-focused,” enabling them to collaborate effectively with a diverse range of people from various teams, departments, countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Understand drivers

While compensation and benefits are important, they’re not the only factors that contribute to keeping employees productive and engaged. They’re just one piece of the larger motivation puzzle.

Understanding what truly motivates your employees often boils down to simply asking them and genuinely listening to their responses. This is a great way to find out more about their vision for themselves and their place within the business.

Learn from experiences

Leading with emotional intelligence entails managers harnessing the power of their employees’ collective experiences and acknowledging people’s diverse lived experiences to help their teams reach their full potential.

Understanding your employees’ backgrounds, including their social identity and how their experiences shape their perspectives, shows a willingness to see the world from their point of view without judgment.

Despite having high emotional intelligence and effective leadership skills, it’s common to view these abilities as simply part of everyday life rather than areas for continuous improvement and development. However, there are numerous advantages to becoming a more empathetic leader, including the satisfaction of witnessing improved relationships and team well-being. By intentionally investing in self-awareness and empathy, leaders can drive positive change and achieve greater success in their roles.