Emotional Intelligence can Enhance Leadership Competencies

The enhancement of leaders' Emotional Intelligence (EI) skills offers a solid foundation and complements other values-based programs focused on the development of leadership competencies. In today's business world, leadership is more important than ever and while organizations have focused on identifying and fostering leadership competencies as a means of gaining competitive advantage, the quality of leadership is still a concern. Ulrich, Intagliata, and Smallwood highlighted the critical importance of leadership competencies when they described them as "a way to define, in behavioral terms, what leaders need to do to produce the results the organization desires and to do so in a way that is consistent with and builds its culture" (Human Resources Planning, Winter, 2000, Vol. 23.4, pp. 12-23).

Typically organizations identify a number of leadership competencies as sets or clusters of behaviors that are important to leading the business effectively. Naturally with any developmental experience offered, the organization would like to see its leaders improve in as many competencies as possible. This is where the enhancement of Emotional Intelligence skills can provide significant leverage and value.

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge from yours and others emotions in order to take appropriate action. While there are a variety of models, each with their unique set of competencies, we use a model with five competencies: Emotional Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-Regulations, Emotional Self-Motivation, Empathy and Nurture Relationships. Notice that the first three competencies are intra-personal (those that are internal to the individual) and the last two are inter-personal (those that occur between individuals).

We can see how Emotional Intelligence competencies support and complement leadership competencies if we take an example leadership competency and look at the relationship. By examining the behaviors that comprise the leadership competency and then thinking about how negative emotions could hamper or interfere with the desired behavior, we can see which of the EI competencies can reinforce or strengthen the desired behavior. Look over the example below for the leadership competency of "Managing Vision and Purpose."

Behaviors for the Leadership Competency - Relating Skills:
Demonstrates approachability
Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization
Builds appropriate rapport
Uses diplomacy and tact.

EI Competencies that Relate to the Leadership Competency - Relating Skills:
Emotional Self-Awareness
Emotional Self-Regulation
Emotional Self-Motivation
Empathy
Nurture Relationships

When you look over the leadership competency behaviors above, can you see how not being aware of your emotions or not managing them would keep you from behaving as desired? Can you see how not being motivated or empathetic or adept at nurturing relationships could also hamper performance? So for the leadership competency, "Managing Vision and Purpose," all EI competencies are key to ensuring the underlying behaviors. As a matter of observation, in most cases a significant portion of the EI competencies enhance the development of most leadership competencies. Perhaps the relationship is not as clear when you examine technical leadership competencies. However, even in this area, not having skill in EI competencies can hamper performance.

Experiences participants of EI skill-building programs share demonstrate that by developing EI skills, leadership competencies are simultaneously enhanced. This benefit provides significant leverage to organizational efforts aimed at growing leaders. As an investment focused on developing leadership competencies, Emotional Intelligence skill-building can produce the results organizations need. One caveat is to be sure to look for measured results obtained by implementing the program. Results that verify use of techniques on the job and actual return on investment (ROI) will ensure value for your organization's investment.

Tailoring the art and science of Emotional Intelligence (EI) to your needs, Byron Stock focuses on results, helping individuals and organizations enhance EI skills, leadership competencies and core values. Visit us to learn more about Byron's practical, user-friendly techniques to enhance Emotional Intelligence skills.