Why Emotional Intelligence Creates Ripples Far Beyond Your Leadership Role

When I’m asked to speak about the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, the focus is naturally on the impact it has on workplace outcomes.

However, the truth is applying emotional intelligence creates ripples that extend far beyond our work as it positively impacts not only the way we lead, but also the way we live.

Research from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence has shown that higher emotional intelligence leads to stronger relationships in both professional and personal circles, better physical health, and greater life satisfaction.

Talk about a winning outcome for a well lived life!

The good news is that we all have the chance to achieve such winning outcomes in our own lives as developing emotional intelligence doesn’t require innate skills or specific personality types. It just requires a consistent, intentional effort on our part.

As leaders, we can create conditions to help others embrace these practices and enjoy the ripple effect in their own lives.

Begin by fostering psychological safety where your employees feel valued and understood. That their insights and perspectives matter, even if it runs counter to everyone else’s.

You can also create opportunities for employees to develop their emotional intelligence through meaningful dialogue and creating space for personal reflection and review outside of formal practices.

Share your own journey of self-awareness to help them discover their own patterns and path to greater awareness.

And foster a workplace environment where emotions are seen as data points that add clarity and context, as opposed to being something that needs to be suppressed and hidden.

Remember, emotional intelligence is not just a ‘leadership competency’, but a driving force that compels us to become that better version of who we can be, and create positive ripples that will impact not only those we lead, but those in our personal lives as well.