The COVID era brought unprecedented challenges, and as leaders, we faced unique pressures and reacted in diverse ways. Some succumbed to the sudden shift to remote teams, while others emerged as resilient and stronger leaders. So, what sets them apart? The key lies in the connection between emotionally intelligent leaders and their adept use of resilience tools. In this blog post, I explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) and resilience skills contribute to effective leadership, and how they can be developed to navigate change and adversity.
Mastering Emotional Intelligence and Resilience
EQ encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. These skills enable leaders to connect with others and effectively lead on both an individual and group level. However, it starts with self-centering. Without the ability to control their own emotions and adapt their behavior to influence others, leaders risk disastrous consequences. I’ve witnessed entire work cultures upended due to a leader’s failure to grasp this concept. Building a culture of commitment can quickly transform into one of compliance overnight.
The Transformative Power of Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
The good news is that resilience and emotional intelligence skills can be developed, yielding tangible leadership results. Leaders with higher levels of EQ and resilience possess the ability to navigate change and adversity effectively. This is where my experience working with Dovetail Learning, a prominent non-profit dedicated to fostering resilience skills, comes into play.
Mindset of Resilient and Emotionally Intelligent Leaders
Through my work, I’ve identified three key attributes of resilient and emotionally intelligent leaders. Firstly, they approach life with curiosity, particularly about themselves. They are self-aware and attuned to the signals their bodies send when something is amiss. Secondly, they recognize that they have a choice in how they respond to any given situation, known as self-regulation in EQ. Making positive choices brings colleagues closer, while negative choices have the opposite effect. Finally, they possess the courage to select the right response, even if it means stepping out of their comfort zone. This fosters empathetic relationships and inspires followership.
The Wisdom of Viktor Frankl
In his influential book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl wrote, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” Though not explicitly named, Frankl referred to resilience—the ability to seize that space and make conscious choices.
Leading with Emotional Intelligence and Resilience
Leaders have a myriad of skills to develop, but the best prioritize emotional intelligence and resilience. Without these fundamental traits, can one truly lead?
To conclude, as leaders, we must recognize the transformative power of emotional intelligence and resilience. By cultivating self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation, we become better equipped to guide our teams through challenging times. Remember Viktor Frankl’s wisdom and embrace the space between stimulus and response. In that space lies the opportunity for growth, freedom, and extraordinary leadership.
For more information on Liberty’s National Human Capital Management Practice Group, please reach out to Clint Tripodi, Senior Vice President (National Human Capital Management Practice Leader), The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers.
