Good leaders are not immune to struggling with their feelings at work. Strengthening emotional intelligence can go a long way in staying steady when things get tough.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is defined by Mental Health America as "the ability to manage your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you," with key elements including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, social skills and empathy. There are people who are psychologically flexible and handle life's pressures — whether personal or professional — well. But there are also those for whom pressure takes a larger toll, affecting their ability to lead, says Chantel Cohen, the founder and CEO of CWC Coaching and Therapy.
"[If] you've got someone who's really struggling, it shows up in their leadership," she says. "It could show up in the way they're working, or in their interactions with colleagues."
People's EI is becoming more important to employers thanks to recent research identifying it as the strongest indicator of job performance. In fact, data from CareerBuilder shows seven out of 10 employers prioritize EI over IQ in their employees, citing its connection to staying calm under pressure, resolving conflict and showing empathy toward coworkers.
Cohen takes a holistic approach to building EI with those who seek out her services as a therapist and life and executive communications coach. She helps clients establish a stronger relationship with themselves, their significant other if applicable, and their career. When things are off in one category, the others tend to suffer, so being healthy in all of these areas is a vital part of leaders' success, she explains.
"There's this notion that we zip on and off this suit of professionalism," says Cohen. "What I'm increasingly seeing is that we bring our stuff wherever we go."
Data agrees. While stress from work has an obvious impact on leaders' well-being, external issues like financial strain, family concerns and illness are bound to play a role as well. In a survey conducted by HR software company Ciphr, 98% of leaders and senior managers reported one area of work to be stressful, while 83% said three or more areas were the source of strain. Their biggest concerns, however, were cost of living (30%) and high inflation and rising prices (29%). Twenty-two percent reported concern over exhaustion and burnout.
Businessolver's State of Workplace Empathy found that more than half of CEOs alone experienced a negative mental health issue over the past year. They also gave an alarming impression of today's work culture: Eight out of 10 agreed with the statement, "Companies view someone with mental health issues as weak or a burden," and 63% found it difficult to demonstrate empathy during their workday. If this is the case, what kind of leadership is being portrayed, and how is it affecting those around them, as well as the business?
"People lead the way that they are," Cohen says. "We look at mental health as foundational to leadership in order to drive results and address inequities in the workplace."
Absorbing the combined forces of professional responsibilities and life's curveballs is tough, and no one should feel like they are being judged or have to face it alone. But there are ways individuals can build up the elements of EI that will make these things more manageable.
Cohen shares three ways leaders (or anyone) can enhance their emotional intelligence.
