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Leadership Term

Emotional Intelligence

Definition

The ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use emotions in yourself and others. In leadership, emotional intelligence enables better communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics.

Key Principles

  • Self-awareness: Understanding your own emotions
  • Self-regulation: Managing your emotional responses
  • Motivation: Using emotions to drive toward goals
  • Empathy: Understanding others' emotions
  • Social skills: Managing relationships effectively

Examples in Practice

  • Recognizing when you're frustrated and taking a moment before responding to a challenging email
  • Reading the room in a meeting and adjusting your approach based on team energy
  • Having a difficult conversation with empathy while still maintaining clear expectations

Related Terms

Servant Leadership

A leadership philosophy where the primary goal of the leader is to serve others. Servant leaders prioritize the growth, well-being, and empowerment of their team members, creating environments where people can develop and perform at their best.

1:1 Meetings

Regular, scheduled conversations between a manager and each of their direct reports. These meetings are primarily for the team member's benefit, covering their priorities, obstacles, feedback, and development.

Psychological Safety

A shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Team members feel confident they won't be punished, humiliated, or rejected for speaking up with questions, concerns, mistakes, or new ideas.

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