I don’t call EI a “soft skill.” I call it “the new Bitcoin of leadership” the asset that actually moves your organization’s value.
Too many leaders treat outcomes as the only metric. One manager told me,
“I don’t care a shxx about your process or approach, I want outcomes.
Results matter — but so does, how you show up to get them. If you can’t self-regulate, how do you expect your team to stay motivated?
Another moment I heard: a team member returning from supporting a dear one who was terminally ill asked,
“Have you completed submitting the timesheet?”
That question landed like a blow. When leaders are tunnel-focused on compliance or outcomes, they miss not noticing the human behind the role.
You must be mentally free enough to notice people’s needs.
A better scene: a heated client-blame exchange between Sales and Delivery. Delivery head could have snapped. Instead he said, “Let’s review the solution together.” That’s self-awareness and self-regulation in action shifting from blame to problem-solving.
💡 Leaders who see and feel before they act create trust.
💡 Leaders who act first and notice later erode connection. “Know yourself
before you lead others.” “Stay in control, especially under pressure.
Five EI pillars every leader must habitually cultivate and practice:
1:Empathy — understand feelings and perspectives.
2:Self-regulation — stay calm under pressure.
3:Self-awareness — know your triggers.
4:Motivation — inspire with purpose.
5:Interpersonal skills — resolve conflict and build trust.
👉 Can EI be improved? Yes — but not by checkbox training
👉 But only with persistent practice in real-time, honest feedback, and real reflection.
👉 Quick slogan to remember: “Know yourself before you lead others.”
If you want teams that deliver AND feel seen, start with emotional
intelligence. Build it deliberately, measure it thoughtfully, and watch
outcomes follow.
👉 And this: “A leader who sees people first, gets results next.”
🌟Emotional intelligence is vital but in today’s world, leaders must stay centered
while everything shifts around them.