Emotional intelligence: its importance in leadership programs

Emotional intelligence is one of the pillars of effective leadership in business management. It is important not to neglect this feature to achieve success much more effectively.

A good leader is a person who does not lose control and who faces challenges trusting his work team. Following this type of intelligence should be a priority as part of a good strategy for your business.

In this article, we are going to learn what emotional intelligence is, how it can help you better manage leadership in your work team, and its importance.

Emotional intelligence: definition and importance

It is the ability to recognize one's feelings and those of the people around us, to properly manage relationships, which is very practical both personally and professionally, because it helps us to be aware of what we say and how we do it.

In the workplace, it is one of the skills most in demand today, especially because, as automation makes some tasks repetitive or routine, good leadership enables the difference to increase productivity.

The bet with a view to the future is clear: you must have a workforce with high competencies in emotional intelligence to achieve success since areas such as customer service are and will be one of the most important elements for a business.

Therefore, it is not surprising that companies that implement emotional intelligence strategies for agile leadership generally have 20% better results, and this is mainly seen in factors such as employee satisfaction, market share, customer service, and productivity levels.

Emotional intelligence and leadership in a company

Two fundamental characteristics that a team leader or a manager of a company must have are emotional intelligence and leadership.

This implies that this person can understand and manage their emotions so that they do not harm the professional objectives of their business, as well as being able to understand how these can impact day-to-day activities.

If emotional intelligence does not exist or is not worked on, it is challenging to motivate the work team, representing a problem for an organization that wants to achieve success, which is only possible if everyone works together.

It is important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the same as commercial intelligence, although they have a similar approach in terms of objectives. The first is focused on improving leadership.

Let's get to know some of the characteristics that must be developed in the process of emotional intelligence for good leadership.

a) Self-knowledge

The more a person gets to know himself/herself, the better discernment he/she will have to know how to act in the most difficult or stressful moments within the company, which will allow him/her to make smarter decisions.

This characteristic also helps to analyze and understand the feelings or emotions of the work team, which generates empathy and a better work environment. The important thing here is that there are no feelings that alter the balance and have negative consequences for the business.

b) Self-control

Another fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence is the ability to learn to manage emotions and control them, focusing on them differently to achieve better results.

A clear example of the absence of this factor is the case of an executive who faces the failure of his team and reacts with frustration and anger; without the capacity for self-control. This response does not generate any positive change and only affects the future.

c) Motivation

Motivation is a fundamental piece to maintaining a powerful dynamism for the team because if they are happy and feel comfortable with the work environment, it will be much easier to achieve the personal and professional objectives of the organization.

With emotional intelligence, a leader can create or facilitate work motivation through creative challenges, constant training, and recognition for a job well done.

d) Empathy

Empathy is the ability of a person to "put him/herself in the shoes" of another, that is, to experience the situation that someone else is going through. In the case of leadership, this means considering the emotions and feelings of employees to make the most appropriate decisions.

One way in which this can be achieved is through active listening, which also generates trust and familiarity with your work team.

e) Social skills

Finally, emotional intelligence can help a leader to improve social skills, which are aimed at guiding all staff towards a common direction.

How to work on emotional intelligence to improve leadership

One of the best options to improve emotional intelligence within your company is the alliance with experts who have adequate solutions for any type of business, such as the case of London Consulting Group.

Integration and training are only something simple if you have a good direction, and in London Consulting Group we have the Agile Leadership program, whose main focus is the adaptation to changing and challenging environments, particularly in the digital era in which we are enrolled.

The program, structured in 10 sessions of 4 hours each, covers key topics such as organizational agility, change management, and goal setting. It stands out for its holistic approach, adding aspects of emotional intelligence and life balance.

London Consulting Group's solution aims to equip leaders with practical tools to improve the efficiency of their teams and lead successfully in the context of digital transformation.

The key points that are achieved in depth are the following:

Organizational agility

This refers to an organization's ability to adapt quickly to changes in the market and its internal environment, which implies adopting agile practices that foster flexibility, interdepartmental collaboration, and fast and effective decision-making.

Agile organizations tend to have a less hierarchical structure and promote continuous innovation, which is a strength for the desired success.

Change management

A structured approach to guiding individuals, teams, and organizations from their current state to a desired state, including strategies for managing resistance to change, effectively communicating change, and ensuring that changes are implemented sustainably.

Goal setting

This is the process of defining clear and achievable objectives to guide the actions and focus of an organization or individual.

Good goal setting implies that objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This process helps maintain direction and motivation and is fundamental to strategic planning and performance measurement.

The strategic partner your company needs for effective leadership

Suppose you are looking to integrate emotional intelligence to improve leadership in your team. In that case, London Consulting Group is an expert in training business leaders in skills and strategies to manage effectively in an ever-changing business environment.

The solution can provide support in:

• Fostering adaptive and proactive leadership, essential for navigating volatile markets.
• Improve team efficiency and productivity by implementing agile practices.
• Facilitate digital and cultural transformation within the organization, which is crucial in the modern era.

If you want to learn more about the program, get in touch with one of our Business Shapers and begin your transformation today.