EQ and Leadership Effectiveness

Mathias Ehlers Iversen, s174750

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as others’ emotions. EQ is increasingly becoming one of the most important attributes in the field of leadership. The ability to control your emotions as a leader is a crucial part of success and increases the effectiveness of leadership ^[1].

Emotional intelligence contains four key elements:

Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Social Awareness
Relationship Management

These four elements relate to different abilities associated with high EQ. The ability to control and apply these elements in leadership can be crucial for managers to increase effectiveness and productivity ^[2].

Leaders with a high level of EQ are seen to be more effective in achieving organizational goals, creating a positive work environment, and building winning teams. They are both great a developing themselves and others toward the direction of the goals in an organization. To apply EQ in leadership it is important to constantly develop and increase the level of the key elements.

According to the authors behind “EQ and the Bottom Line” they identified 10 key steps to develop EQ in an organization. These steps are in a variety of difficulty to apply within an organization and must be adapted to individual organizations. However, if applied correctly can be a vital driver for increasing organizational EQ and project performance ^[1] ^[3] ^[4].

While EQ is seen as a very valuable tool and the ability of leaders, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. The complexity of the concept and development of EQ requires effort, time, and dedication. Furthermore, all individuals are not equally skilled in EQ, and it can be very difficult to develop these skills for some individuals.

Succeed as a leader with EQ

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Theory about EQ

Emotional Intelligence further referred to as EQ, is theoretically described as the ability to manage and understand your own and others’ emotions as an individual person. It is increasingly being acknowledged as one of the most important attributes of a great leader or manager. A person associated with high EQ is often seen as being traditionally better at managing conflicts, connecting with their team members, creating a positive work environment, and building trust.

The four key elements

Controlling your emotions

Positive emotions
Negative emotions