True leaders harness these 5 components of emotional intelligence

What makes a leader, a leader?

 Ask ten different people and you’ll get ten different answers. Here’s one list of potent leadership traits I borrowed from Harvard Business Review that makes a lot of sense to me. It lists five emotional intelligence traits effective leaders must possess.

 Self-awareness — which can look like self-confidence, to a degree, but includes a realistic self-assessment and, often, a self-deprecating sense of humor

 Self-regulation — the ability to control disruptive impulses and moods

 Motivation — a passion for one’s work that goes beyond seeking money or status

 Empathy — being able to tap into understanding the emotions and experiences of people you work with

 Social skills — the ability to manage relationships and build networks

 As leader for over 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of “leaders” fall in the ranks of leadership as they were lacking in these skills. They may have the title, but they do not have the buy-in of the people in their charge. This behavior is simply not sustainable no matter what people think. 

 Human nature is such that people will rally to get behind someone who supports them and sets them up for success.

 #effectiveleadership #motivation #empathy