Being an entrepreneur requires exceptional business acumen, grit and an eye for seeing opportunities where others can’t. While these hard skills play a critical role in a business’ future and ongoing success, the soft skills a leader possesses are just as important.
Leaders with high levels of emotional intelligence are not only better able to regulate their own emotions during the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, but also effectively maintain strong communication and showcase a resilience that puts others at ease. Cultivating emotional intelligence as a leader is a lifelong process that requires care. To help, 20 Forbes Business Council members each share one way leaders can work to improve their emotional intelligence.
1. Start By Leading Yourself
Impactful leadership begins with the ability to lead oneself. The foundation of emotional intelligence is built through self-leadership and self-coaching. When leaders effectively lead themselves, they set a powerful example for their teams, showcasing the value of accountability, continuous learning and self-care. Self-reflection is also essential for enhancing emotional regulation and authenticity. – Marco Gam, Conmedia ApS
2. Engage In Active Self-Reflection
Leaders can build emotional intelligence through active self-reflection. This introspective approach involves taking time to reflect on our emotions, understand what triggers them and recognize how these emotions influence our behavior and decision-making. Once we understand ourselves, we are aware of our emotional states and respond to situations more thoughtfully. This will allow us to understand and treat our employees better. – Joe Faruqui, A.S.A.P Semiconductor
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3. Become More Self-Aware
Self-assessment is vital to improving one’s emotional intelligence as a leader. Being able to observe oneself and act accordingly and humbly allows great leaders to build empathy and enhance their social skills. These skills often contribute to better decision-making and improved relationships, which then leads to greater job satisfaction for all involved. – Melanie French, RR Living
4. Listen More Than You Speak
To improve emotional intelligence, a good leader listens more than they speak. We have two ears and one mouth to emphasize attentive listening. True listening fosters understanding and connection, making communication meaningful and relationships deeper. Though challenging, especially for ambitious minds, intentional listening grows emotional intelligence through empathy and cohesive interaction. – Marco Scanu, 345 Group LLC (dba Visa Business Plans)
5. Get To Know Your Team
Emotional intelligence isn’t only the ability to understand and empathize with others; it is also the ability to communicate and meet people where they are. Good leaders get to know their team, so talk to others and listen attentively. It is important for people to know they are supported. Leaders might lead, but when everyone works toward the same goal, everyone moves forward together. That’s teamwork. – Lisa Tomasi, YouGiveGoods
6. Empower Your Team Members
Fearless listening is at the core of being an empathetic leader. Emotional intelligence is all about how you make people feel. Being cognizant of whether team members are more energized after leaving your office or meetings than when they walked in demonstrates that you heard and empowered them. Many leaders have strong opinions that suck the energy out of the room and thwart innovation. – Barri Rafferty, Sodali & Co
7. Implement An Open-Door Policy
Maintain an open-door policy. Focus on the person in front of you and actively listen. Seeking feedback and new ideas from others allows leaders to understand new perspectives. – Dr. Cassandra Henderson, Child Action, Inc.
8. Seek Feedback From Employees And Peers
Leaders can improve their emotional intelligence by actively seeking feedback from their team and peers. This strengthens self-awareness and empathy, which are both crucial for building trust and strong relationships in a fast-paced team. In my previous experiences, fostering open communication and continuous feedback was key to scaling successfully and maintaining high employee satisfaction and productivity. – Christoph Zeizel, Mawave Marketing
9. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Asking thoughtful questions isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about demonstrating interest, understanding different perspectives and creating a safe space for sharing. It signals that we respect others’ contributions and strive to understand what they’re saying. By honing this skill, leaders can build stronger relationships and ensure team members feel valued and heard. – Natasha Cox, Avani Services
10. Practice Empathy
Leaders can improve emotional intelligence by practicing empathy and putting themselves in others’ shoes. Empathy builds stronger connections and boosts morale. It’s key to better leadership because it’s about not only managing tasks, but also supporting your team’s potential and well-being, leading to increased motivation and job satisfaction. – Ben Nicholls, JamPrime Limited
11. Adopt Mindful Reflection
We spend so much of our lives working that there’s an increasing desire to spend that time in a place where we feel balanced, respected and included. Improving emotional intelligence is a key retention measure. There are many books and articles to help frame improvement in this area, but based on my own experiences with managers and leaders, mindful reflection has helped guide improvements for myself. – Kelly Turner, Civitas Strategies
12. Prioritize Communication And Empathy
Clear communication and empathy are essential for enhancing the development of emotional intelligence. Direct and straightforward communication facilitates better understanding. Practical empathy enables you to adopt another person’s perspective, understand their feelings and respond appropriately to their experiences. – Rodrigo Brandao Schiavo, JH333 Financial Holding, LLC
13. Learn How To Read A Room
Leaders can sharpen their emotional intelligence by mastering the art of reading the room—it’s not just about hearing words but decoding what’s unsaid. This skill is crucial because when leaders tune into emotional undercurrents, they navigate challenges with finesse, making teams feel seen and valued. – Nina Greenwood, Happy Plum Language Learning
14. Schedule Regular Skip-Level Meetings
Create a culture where skip-level meetings are part of your quarterly calendar. Listen and learn from the people who are truly running your business. Intentionally listening, asking for feedback and creating space for others to be heard are all building blocks of emotional intelligence. This process opens a deeper understanding of both self and others that drives business success. – Michelle Sims, YUPRO Placement
15. Consider Diverse Perspectives
Cognitive flexibility enables leaders to effectively address and adapt to different dynamics while improving their emotional intelligence. By considering diverse perspectives, leaders can challenge their biases and ensure decisions support a culture that values all contributions. This adaptability is essential for promoting gender equality and enhancing overall leadership effectiveness. – Julia Rafal-Baer, ILO Group
16. Understand Stakeholders’ Short- And Long-Term Goals
Emotional intelligence has become incredibly important for modern business leadership. To me, this means working to understand the immediate priorities and long-term objectives of our team members and shareholders and drive the organization toward its vision while also helping our stakeholders meet their goals. – Massimo Bizzi, Fortifi Food Processing Solutions
17. Invest In Your Team
Have lunch with your team. Get to know them as real people, observe their group dynamics and invest in them. People will tell you a lot more than you think. If you are genuinely interested in knowing them, you will automatically increase your emotional intelligence. – Gautam Mehra, ProfitWheel Inc.
18. Reflect On Your Own Emotions
One way leaders can work to improve their emotional intelligence is through regularly reflecting on their own emotions. By practicing being more self-aware, leaders can learn how to identify what triggers them, how to recognize when those emotions bubble up and how to self-check. It’s critical for leaders to be able to connect and build trust with their peers and their team. – Jason Wietharn, Velosio
19. Practice Regular Breathwork
Regular breathwork practice can dramatically boost emotional intelligence. By tuning into our breath, we learn to pause and respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. This heightened self-awareness ripples out, improving how we connect with and lead others. – Stefanos Sifandos, ASRAYA
20. Expand Your Capacity For Compassion And Wisdom
Leaders can build their EQ by expanding their capacity for compassion and wisdom. It isn’t learned through intellectual processing but cultivated through a commitment to self-awareness and self-leadership. The results are not only seen but felt, creating a culture where team members care about their jobs and deepen their commitment to the company. – Tracy Yates, Mindway
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