Leveraging Emotional Competence for Leadership Development

📌Quiet Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Leadership isn’t just about strategies and deliverables—it’s about people. When one of my high-performing team members started disengaging, my instinct was to address the performance dip. Instead, I paused, listened, and simply asked, “How are you doing?” That conversation revealed personal challenges she was silently managing. She didn’t need solutions—just someone to listen . This reminded me that emotional intelligence is key to leadership: being self-aware, showing empathy, and adapting to your team’s needs. Here’s How Leaders Can Build EQ in Teams: ↳Listen Actively: Make time for real conversations, beyond work. Ask, “How are you doing?”—and mean it. ↳Encourage Vulnerability: Share your own challenges and create a culture where it’s okay to not be perfect. ↳Recognize and Adapt: Everyone communicates and processes differently. Be flexible in your approach. ↳Model EQ: Your team mirrors your behavior. Show them how to handle stress, conflict, and challenges gracefully. Leaders, remember: Teams thrive when people feel seen and supported. How do you build EQ in your team?

One lesson I learned during my climb from entry level to SVP: It's not just about the skills. It's about the heart. As a certified executive & leadership coach with 20+ years in the corporate world, I've seen firsthand how emotional intelligence (EQ) can make the difference between just getting the job done and truly thriving as a leader. Back when I was starting out, I thought leadership was all about being the smartest person in the room. But as I climbed the ladder, I realized that true leadership is about connecting with people, understanding their needs, and inspiring them to reach their full potential. That's where EQ comes in. Here's how I've seen emotional intelligence make a difference in my own leadership journey: ✅ Building Trust: Creating a safe space for your team to be vulnerable and honest fosters trust, which is essential for collaboration and innovation. ✅ Navigating Conflict: EQ helps you stay curious, understand different perspectives, and find win-win solutions. ✅ Motivating Others: When you understand your team's motivations, you can inspire them to reach their goals. What would you add to the list? Comment below! 👇 *** Hi there - I’m Tracy. Want to learn more about developing your emotional intelligence as a leader? I'm passionate about helping others make leadership feel easier. Let's chat!

When I was 28 years old,..... I was stuck, experiencing: • Constant project delays due to team miscommunication • High employee turnover in my projects • Frequent conflicts that stalled progress At 40, everything changed. After years as a construction professional, I realized that technical skills alone weren’t enough. Miscommunication, high turnover, and unresolved conflicts were holding projects back. So, I made a shift. I dove into emotional intelligence, and it completely transformed my approach to leadership and project management. Now, I train construction professionals to develop these same skills, helping them lead more effectively. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. Communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about reading emotions. Recognizing emotional cues can solve the communication breakdowns that plague so many teams. 2. Conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to derail progress. I’ve learned to turn conflict into a driver of innovation and collaboration. 3. Empathy is the most underrated leadership skill. Leaders who genuinely connect with their teams inspire trust and loyalty, which leads to better project outcomes. 4. Emotional intelligence isn’t a "soft skill"—it’s a game-changer. In construction, where high stakes and tight deadlines are the norm, emotional intelligence is the key to smoother projects and stronger teams. The biggest lesson? Emotional intelligence doesn’t just change individuals—it transforms entire projects. #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ConstructionIndustry #ProjectManagement #TeamLeadership #ConflictResolution #EffectiveCommunication #EmpathyInLeadership #ConstructionProfessionals #LeadershipDevelopment

Emotional Intelligence: A Core Leadership Skill Emotional intelligence (EI) is more than a skill—it is a leadership superpower. Leaders with high EI understand their emotions and those of others, using that knowledge to inspire trust, resolve conflicts, and strengthen team dynamics. I remember leading a team through a challenging operational turnaround. Stress levels were high, and morale was low. Instead of pushing harder, I paused to focus on self-awareness and empathy. I began meeting with team members individually to listen to their concerns and better understand their perspectives. We rebuilt trust and collaboration by acknowledging their challenges and aligning my communication with their needs. Within months, turnover dropped by 25%, and engagement soared. That experience solidified that emotional intelligence is not optional; it is essential! Teams thrive when they feel understood and valued, creating a ripple effect of trust and high performance. What EI practices have helped you the most in your leadership journey? Let’s learn together! #CRAVELeadership #LeadershipTips #DrAmin #NeuroLeadership

Nothing has shown me the need for leaders to build emotional capacity more than one of my posts going viral to the tune of 5.5 million views. I had to block countless people who: 1. Lost focus on the main point, using the post to share angry political opinions or derail the conversation with personal emotions—despite the post being about a universal leadership trait. 2. Attacked me personally, making comments about my age, qualifications, and gender—things that would get them sent straight to HR—simply because they disagreed or over-personalized my point. I even received a death threat from a corporate leader and a "scolding" private message from an executive who couldn’t stick to the post’s point. The one that made me chuckle: A man listed as an advisor for my alma mater’s entrepreneurial program (where I’ve been invited to speak multiple times) told me to "eff off" without realizing I’m an alum. I’ll enjoy sharing that comment with the university so they know who they have on their advisory councils. This happens when companies don’t invest in leadership development training that prioritizes building emotional capacity. Over the years, I’ve delivered workshops and keynotes and worked closely with executive teams and companies. The consistent theme: Many leadership programs focus on strategy and productivity, but few emphasize and PRIORITIZE emotional capacity, even though it's arguably the most important trait of good leadership. Why does emotional capacity matter for leaders? 1. Creates Stability: A leader’s mood sets the tone. Emotional capacity fosters an environment of safety and trust. 2. Prevents Reputational Damage: Leaders who manage emotions avoid public and private outbursts that harm credibility and culture. 3. Enables Smart Decisions: Emotional capacity helps leaders separate feelings from facts and make thoughtful decisions. Studies have shown that stress can narrow our cognitive focus as leaders and when cognitive focus is narrowed we make poor, reactive decision that can damage businesses long term. 4. Builds Stronger Teams: It equips leaders to handle tough conversations and inspire teams during challenges. 5. Cultivates Resilience: Leaders with emotional capacity navigate setbacks and lead through uncertainty without losing vision. Emotional capacity isn’t about suppressing emotions, it’s about managing them. It’s about responding thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively. For organizations, investing in emotional capacity isn't optional; it's critical. You're rarely going to work with people who think exactly like you do. If you can stay focused on what matters and lead in moments when others lose their cool, you will stand out, always. And for leaders, it’s a superpower that sets you apart. We've seen enough leaders that cause damage with out of control emotions. Imagine what benchmarks can be surpassed when everyone in leadership has developed the emotional capacity required to lead excellently.

I got to train 75 managers in how to hold Tough Conversations and how to Lead with Emotional Intelligence this week. One of the hardest moments they identified was when a team member shared a situation with a strong emotion like, 💬 "I just applied for a promotion and didn't get it again." or 💬"I've been waiting for 6 months for a development opportunity and am still waiting." or 💬"I'm struggling with personal challenges at home." The initial reaction was to want to say, "How can I help you navigate this?" or "How can I support?" These are great responses motivated to 1) help the person and 2) find a solution. But, people feel relief not because of what you do but because of the connection you make with them. In fact, jumping to a solution without acknowledging how they're feeling can intensify the feelings of being misunderstood or not supported. This is where empathy is so powerful. By taking a moment to make a statement to acknowledge the person's emotion they are feeling in the situation, we can help them feel seen, heard, and connected to. This might sound like, 💬"That's a really frustrating situation. I know how hard it is to go after an opportunity and not get it." or 💬"I know how much work you've put in to be selected for this opportunity. I'm sorry you haven't gotten the result you wanted." or 💬"I'd love to hear more. Are you willing to share with me about your situation?" By identifying with someone's emotion or asking questions to give them space to share how they're feeling, we create connection, build trust, show them support, and can help de-escalate the feelings they are experiencing. Do you have any tips for expressing empathy when a team member shares a hard situation or emotion? #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #empathy

I recently listened to Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman. Below are my key learnings. I'd love to read your thoughts on the book or the topic of EQ and its use in Management. Mr Goleman makes compelling argument that emotional intelligence (EQ), more than IQ or technical skill, is the essential trait that sets great leaders apart. Reading Primal Leadership reinforced what many of us instinctively know but don’t always practice—leadership isn’t just about strategy and execution, it's about emotional connection. The book explores how leaders can leverage emotional intelligence to drive performance, create resonance, and build high-performing teams. One point I reflected on while reading: it's easy to radiate positive energy when results are strong—but what about during hard times? Goleman offers insight into this by emphasizing the importance of a visionary leadership style—keeping teams anchored in purpose even when outcomes lag. Leaders who connect personally, listen deeply, and coach rather than command are better equipped to keep morale high and navigate uncertainty. A standout idea for me was the role of coaching and empathy in leadership. Understanding your team's hopes and dreams—not just their KPIs—can drive lasting engagement. It’s a reminder that leadership is deeply personal. As one Gallup leader put it: "People join companies and leave managers." Here are a few takeaways that resonated and are especially relevant for business professionals today: - Emotions are contagious: Leaders set the emotional tone. If you're stressed, disconnected, or negative, it cascades through your team. - Psychological safety and candor matter: High EQ leaders foster trust and encourage openness, which unlocks innovation and growth. - Be the change: Your behavior—especially in moments of tension—models what’s acceptable. Attack problems, not people. Primal Leadership doesn’t offer a quick fix, but it’s a powerful call to lead with authenticity, self-awareness, and heart. For anyone managing teams or navigating transformation, it’s worth the read—and worth revisiting. #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #PrimalLeadership #Coaching #PeopleFirst