WHY should you care about Emotional Intelligence

Because it is VITAL in your business!

I was invited to meet with a group of CEOs recently to talk about Emotional Intelligence(EI). It has been an interesting journey to talk with various groups about EI. Most people do not know what Emotional Intelligence is and why it is important for leaders. One person last week asked if I made it up!   I won’t go into the history of it but there have been books written about it since 1995.

As a former business owner, I have seen how Emotional Intelligence shows up in a business.

Early in my business ownership venture, I was not aware of the value of team members with high emotional intelligence. I would manage all the issues that transpired in the business from personnel to customers because I did not have anyone that I could trust to have enough savvy. Very frustrating times for me and probably them! As business owners or leaders in a business, we have all encountered this at one point.

So, scratching my head, saying there must be a better way! Hiring more expensive people did not always work out. Hiring more educated people was not the solution. Then, I started hearing about and reading about Emotional Intelligence and how it impacts leaders. I believed that was the answer!

I became self-educated about it and started to use the assessment in my business. I did not always hire (or not hire) based on the emotional intelligence assessment but at least it let me know who would move to leadership.

I want to give you an example of low emotional intelligence and its impact then will give you an example of high emotional intelligence and its impact.  I think you will relate to both.

    I had an employee that was very skilled at her job. Highly trained and educated. However, her emotional intelligence was so low that she was hard to manage. She could not handle any constructive coaching, any negative comments about her work or any adjustments that the customer wanted.  She got defensive and almost melted into a puddle if approached. So, everyone started to avoid her, even her manager. She was so non-aware that even trying to talk with her about her emotional intelligence was an issue. Now, how is that good for the company and other team members?

On the other hand, when I learned about Emotional Intelligence and was able to spot someone with high EI during an interview, it was a game changer. 

Part of my motivation was that I wanted to change my org chart from flat with just me to a leadership structure. I was not going to do that with low EI team members! High emotional intelligence leaders are self-aware, self-directed, good communicators, conflict resolvers with high empathy. How would those traits change your team?

This is why I am passionate about Emotional Intelligence for leaders!

I have a class that dives into the elements of Emotional Intelligence. If you cannot attend, send someone from your team. This is great for managers and leaders to help them be aware of themselves and their teams.

 May 14, 2025 and May 15, 2025

 9:00 am EST to 1:00 pm EST BOTH days

   Remote via ZOOM

Imagine being part of a supportive community, where you're not just a participant, but an integral part of the conversation. This is more than just a class—it's a step towards unlocking potential and forging meaningful connections.

If you or someone from your team is interested in joining or has any questions, simply reply to this email or click here https://eqnavigator.com/eq-class  to secure a spot!

An additional resource for information about Emotional Intelligence can be found on my website: www.eqnavigator.com