Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

We often talk about how we can inspire positive behavior in the young people we serve, but what about the power we have to inspire our staff, coworkers, loved ones, etc.? In this leadership EI series, we invite you to dive a bit deeper on your emotional intelligence as a leader. A key component of emotional intelligence to reflect on and deepen is Self-Awareness.
 
Being aware of your emotions and emotional responses to those around you can greatly improve your emotional intelligence. Knowing when you're feeling anxious or angry can help you process and communicate those feelings in a way that promotes healthy results. To improve your awareness, start by noticing when you are being activated and having a strong feeling. Get curious about the feeling and take note of what happened before the feeling was there (e.g., your staff member was late again for the staff meeting), what that feels like in your body, and how you respond to the feeling. Does the response serve you and others? What can you try differently next time? (adapted from: indeed career guide) Start small and see what you notice. Just a reminder…all emotions are welcome and OK! It’s how we respond to them that models for others the kind of leader we are and strive to be.