Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial for effective leadership, particularly in challenging environments like schools. By honing EI skills, parents and professionals can enhance their well-being and become better leaders. Based on insights from the Greater Good Science Center, here are a couple strategies to practice emotionally intelligent leadership:
- Check in with Your Emotions Regularly and Honor Them – Before diving into your busy schedule, take a moment to reflect on how you feel. Emotions provide important information and influence your interactions and decisions.
- Regulate Your Emotions – Identifying your emotions is the first step; managing them is equally important. While positive emotions might not require grounding strategies, anger or burnout’s certainly do. Sustainable strategies like mindful breathing, meditation, or taking a walk outside can help manage intense emotions during challenging moments.
- Listen with Empathy and Without Judgment – Active listening builds trust. Even in strenuous circumstances, remain curious about your own and others’ emotions. Engage in authentic conversations and seek feedback, which helps maintain healthy relationships and emotional regulation.
- Nurture Your Relationships – Greet people with a smile, ask how they’re feeling, and listen to their answers. Create opportunities for everyone’s voice to be heard, acknowledge achievements, and remain curious about emotions.
- Model for Others – Emotions are contagious. Prioritizing your own emotional well-being, boundaries, and relationships sets a positive example for others. Using these techniques to model emotional intelligence benefits everyone around you, including students, staff, and colleagues.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence involves regular self-reflection, emotion regulation, setting boundaries, empathetic listening, and nurturing relationships. By modeling these behaviors, parents and professionals can create a positive impact on their environment and those they lead.
Based on insights from the Greater Good Science Center, shared by Resilient Communities
For more information on how you can become an emotionally intelligent leader visit: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_be_an_emotionally_intelligent_leader
