Dr Smith elaborates on how the four key pillars of EQ can lead to successful leadership in trying times.
Pillar 1: Self-awareness
A self-aware leader can recognise, observe and regulate his or her own emotions. They also know their own strengths, and when they need their team’s assistance. Such a leader is honest and transparent, which builds trust easily. With the COVID-19 situation, self-aware leaders can learn and grow from their own personal and professional challenges, and empathise with their employees who may be experiencing similar feelings.
Pillar 2: Self-management
An emotionally intelligent leader has developed the ability to adjust their emotions to fit the requirements of a situation. For example, they can modify their management to ensure employees stay grounded and calm during a crisis to minimise the risk of disabling fear or anxiety, which can reduce productivity. An emotionally intelligent leader can modify their own emotions to cope successfully and show their staff that the situation is manageable. This way, the leader remains stable and strong for their team.
Pillar 3: Awareness of others
Having awareness of others means that EQ leaders can place themselves ‘in the shoes’ of their staff. In situations such as COVID-19, these leaders can understand and empathise with the concerns of staff. For example, they are able to anticipate and provide the support needed to comfort staff when returning to work after a social-distancing period. The long-term result of this behaviour is that staff become more loyal. Loyal staff will offer more effort and more willingly support a leader they believe will look after them. The workplace itself can become a place of mutual support and a more satisfying and pleasant place to be.
Pillar 4: Relationship management
A leader who understands who they are and empathises with their staff is well placed to develop cooperative and mutually beneficial relationships. If they can gain that cooperation, then staff members will share their ideas and give honest feedback about the company, its customers and any issues that they are aware of. Trust forms the basis of this relationship and is a rich resource in bonding employees to their leader and the company. Staff who trust their leader will support their co-workers and the company in the best way they can to help create a more efficient workplace that is secure and more resilient.
