In this Daily Leverage episode, host Jesse P. Gilmore explains how developing emotional intelligence can supercharge transformational leadership. He defines emotional intelligence as understanding emotions in yourself and others with self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. Research shows higher emotional intelligence correlates to better leadership effectiveness. Gilmore advises growing emotional intelligence by increasing self-awareness, regulating emotions, practicing empathy and honing communication skills. This can lead to better health decisions, personal growth, balanced relationships and more motivated teams. He challenges listeners to assess their emotional intelligence, identify an area for improvement and make a plan to develop it.
Episode 121: Emotional Intelligence
Show Notes
Episode Transcript
Jesse:
You are now listening to Leverage for Growth. Hey everybody, this is Jesse P. Gilmore, founder of Niche in Control and creator of Leverage for Growth. Welcome to the Daily Leverage Edition. Today’s topic is this, emotional intelligence, the superpower of transformational leadership. So back, relax, and welcome to today’s Daily Leverage. On our last episode, we took a deep dive into the concept of transactional versus transformational leadership. And today we’re going to explore a key aspect of becoming that transformational leader, which is emotional intelligence. Let’s unpack how growing your emotional intelligence can supercharge your leadership and pave the way for exponential growth. So what is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage our own emotions in positive ways and to empathize with others. It has five main components. Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Research shows that higher emotional intelligence is linked to better leadership effectiveness. A study by Wong and Law found a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership. Leaders with high emotional intelligence can better understand their team’s feelings and manage their emotions, leading to a more motivated and educated workforce. Growing your emotional intelligence involves developing your self-awareness, improving your emotional regulation, and becoming more empathetic while honing your social skills. Reflecting on your own emotions, seeking feedback, practicing empathy, and improving communication can all help in enhancing your emotional intelligence. So how does emotional intelligence apply to all these other domains of your life. In body, better emotional intelligence can lead towards improved self-care and health decisions. For being, greater self-awareness and empathy can lead to your own personal growth. In balance, enhanced emotional intelligence can improve relationships with your spouse, partner, or kids and provide a more balanced life. In business, leaders with high emotional intelligence often foster more motivated and productive teams. So for our activity today, take about 20 or 30 minutes to assess your own emotional intelligence. Reflect on your strengths and your weaknesses and the five components of emotional intelligence and identify one area that you’d like to improve. And make a plan for how you will work in this area, thinking like the one degree shift every day, as opposed to like this massive change. And improving your emotional intelligence is a key step in becoming a transformational leader. As you develop your own emotional intelligence, you’ll find yourself better equipped to inspire, motivate, and lead your team to exponential growth. So now it’s time for the daily leverage. So where in your world, whether in your life or business, have you been lacking emotional intelligence? Is it in your life with your health and body? Is it in your life with your spirituality or self-direction? Is it in your relationships with your spouse, partner, or kids? Is it in your business, finances, or team? And once you’ve located where you’ve been lacking emotional intelligence and you know what you need to change, my question to you is this. What are you willing and able to do about it today? That is the end of the Daily Leverage. This is Jesse P. Gilmore. You’ve been listening to Leverage for Growth Podcast. If you’re enjoying these Daily Leverage and agency leverage episodes, make sure to subscribe on Apple or Spotify now.