What impact does EQ have on leadership?   IQ might mean you are clever, but without a high EQ, you can never become an effective leader. Madiba, the humblest of men & the epitome of a true leader – on one hand, caring & understanding of others, but was certainly no push-over….   So what makes an effective leader? Perhaps someone who is always calm, even under pressure? Someone who has their team’s complete trust? A person who listens to your input? One who makes you feel comfortable approaching them with any issues you may have? A leader who makes astute & confident decisions? There is a name for it – this is a person with high emotional intelligence, or EQ. Definition of EQ – The ability to understand & manage your own emotions & of those around you.   For a leader, a high emotional intelligence is essential for success. There are 5 key elements needed to possessing a high EQ –

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-control
3. Self-motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social skills

Self-awareness Understanding the effect your emotions & actions can have on those in your presence. In leadership that needs a clear awareness of your strengths & weaknesses & behaving with some humility – leave the ego at home! Tips:

1. Run a journal – a few minutes out of your day to jot down how you’re feeling will help highlight your emotions in a situation.
2. Breathe! If something has riled you, step out of the situation to gather yourself before responding in haste.

                Self-control When you are in control, you rarely have outbursts of anger or bad temper. Neither do you rush into hasty decisions, without first weighing up all the factors to consider. Tips:

1. Be sure to know your own values to be able to stay within them, when under pressure.
2. Remain calm. If under severe pressure take a deep breath & count to 10. It really does work. If you are faced with an unbearable situation, move away until you are composed.

  Self-motivation Set your own sights high with very clear goals. Be continually driving to meet those goals. Tips: Keep focus of what you love about the job that you’re doing. Always see a glass half full, rather than half empty. Reward yourself when you achieve successes.   Empathy Is the ability to see a situation through somebody else’s eyes.  As a leader it is an imperative skill as it builds trust & respect from your team. Tips: When in discussion with an employee, watch that their body language meets with what they are saying. It can be deceptive & easy to pick up the wrong signals if you don’t.   Social skills This is about effective communication. These leaders are able to stir up emotions amongst their team & when used for the good of the team, can create excitement & a positive vibe. Tips: Try & catch someone doing something right & then praise them for it. Ensure that it is specific & relevant to their work.   Summary To be an effective leader, one needs to acquire EQ. Remember that is the ability to understand & manage your own emotions as well as of those in your team.