Updated on April 23, 2025
Leading a team today isn’t just about hitting goals – it’s also about genuinely supporting the people you work with. Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a significant role in creating a workplace where team members feel understood, respected, and want to be there and do their best. When leaders use emotional intelligence effectively, they help their teams become stronger, feel more connected, and manage stress better.
Think of this as your guide to seeing how emotional intelligence impacts leadership, ways you can get better at it, and straightforward steps you can take to truly support your team’s well-being.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is your ability to:
- Know your own feelings: Understand what you’re feeling and how it affects what you do.
- Manage yourself: Keep your emotions in check, especially when things get tough.
- Stay focused: Keep your eyes on the prize with energy and stick-to-itiveness.
- Understand others: Get where other people are coming from and share their feelings.
- Get along with people: Build and keep good, healthy relationships.
According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence has these five main parts. And get this – research shows that leaders who excel in this area tend to have teams that are more positive, accomplish more, and recover better when things go wrong.
Why Does EI Even Matter for Leaders?
When leaders show emotional intelligence, some really good things happen:
- People feel safe to speak up: They’re comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
- Trust builds: When you’re consistent, show you care, and are fair, people trust you.
- Conflicts are handled better: You can understand different sides and talk things through.
- Burnout goes down: You’re more likely to notice when someone’s struggling and can help.
- Team morale gets a boost: People feel more connected and engaged.
Essentially, when you lead with emotional intelligence, people feel seen, supported, and motivated to do their best work.
How You Can Lead with EI
Here’s how you can put emotional intelligence into practice with your team:
- Show You’re Aware of Emotions: Leaders set the tone. Let your team see that it’s okay to acknowledge their feelings. Share when you’re feeling stressed, excited, or even unsure. When you’re open (in a professional way, of course), it makes it easier for others to do the same.
Like this: “In today’s meeting, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the ideas on the table. I’m going to take some time to organize my thoughts, and we’ll regroup tomorrow so we can really dig in.” - Really Listen to People: When someone on your team shares a concern or an idea, listen without interrupting or trying to solve it immediately. Give them the space to say what they need to say.
Quick Tips for Actually Listening:- Look them in the eye.
- Nod or say things like “I get it,” or “Keep going.”
- Try to repeat back what you heard to make sure you understand.
- Acknowledge Feelings Without Having to Fix Them: You don’t have to solve every problem. Often, just letting someone know you understand how they feel can be really powerful.
For example: “It sounds like you’re feeling pretty frustrated about the new project timeline. That makes total sense with everything else you’ve got on your plate.” - Encourage People to Talk Openly: Set up regular check-ins, both one-on-one and with the whole team, where people feel safe talking about challenges as well as tasks. Ask open-ended questions like:
- “What’s been a highlight for you this week?”
- “Is there anything you’re feeling stuck on that I can help with?”
- Notice When People Are Stressed: Pay attention to early signs of stress and burnout, like changes in how people are acting, if they’re being more quiet, seem irritable, or if their work isn’t up to par. Address these things early and offer support or resources if needed.
Emotional Intelligence Makes Teams Stronger
Emotional intelligence isn’t just about being “nice.” It’s about creating a work environment where people can be their best – more engaged, creative, and able to bounce back. When leaders lead with empathy, self-awareness, and open communication, they help build stronger teams and healthier workplaces.
If you want to learn more about emotional intelligence and practical ways to support your team’s emotional well-being, these resources are a great place to start:
- Emotional Intelligence Consortium: Research and resources on developing emotional intelligence.
- Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness: Bringing Out the Best
Want some personalized help creating a healthier, more resilient team culture? Schedule a consultation with Firefly Therapy Austin today.