How emerging leaders can develop emotional intelligence to navigate leadership challenges
Stepping into leadership is a pivotal moment in any professional’s journey. While technical expertise and strategic insight remain important, the ability to understand and manage emotions-both your own and those of others-has emerged as a defining factor in leadership success. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is no longer just a “nice-to-have” skill; it is foundational to effective leadership in today’s complex and fast-moving world (RocheMartin, 2025).
Emotional intelligence encompasses several interrelated abilities: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills (Goleman, 1998). These capacities enable leaders to navigate the emotional landscape of their teams and organisations, build trust, resolve conflicts, and inspire sustained performance. For emerging leaders, cultivating EQ is essential to meet the multifaceted challenges they will inevitably face.
At its core, emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness-the ability to recognise and understand one’s own emotions and how they influence behaviour and decision-making. Many new leaders underestimate the importance of this introspective skill. Regular reflection, whether through journaling or mindful pauses during the day, helps uncover emotional triggers and habitual responses. Seeking candid feedback from trusted mentors or colleagues also sharpens this self-knowledge. Without self-awareness, leaders risk reacting impulsively or projecting unintended signals that can erode their credibility.
Closely linked to self-awareness is self-regulation-the capacity to manage one’s emotional responses, particularly in high-pressure situations. Emerging leaders often find themselves under intense scrutiny and stress, making it easy to respond defensively or emotionally. Developing self-regulation involves cultivating techniques such as mindfulness or breathing exercises to maintain composure. It also requires a deliberate shift from reacting impulsively to responding thoughtfully. Leaders who master this skill model emotional resilience, which in turn fosters a calm and focused team environment (Goleman, 1998).
Motivation, another pillar of emotional intelligence, speaks to a leader’s inner drive and persistence. Leaders with high EQ align their personal values with organisational goals, maintaining optimism and energy even when faced with setbacks. This intrinsic motivation inspires teams and helps sustain momentum during periods of uncertainty or change. Celebrating incremental progress and reinforcing shared purpose can help emerging leaders maintain this motivation and encourage the same in their teams (Target Training Associates, 2025).
Perhaps the most visible aspect of emotional intelligence is empathy-the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathy is critical for building trust, resolving conflict, and leading diverse teams with sensitivity. Leaders who practice active listening, genuinely seek to understand different perspectives, and demonstrate care for their team members’ wellbeing create psychologically safe environments where people feel valued and heard (CCL, 2024). This emotional attunement allows leaders to navigate difficult conversations with compassion and effectiveness.
Finally, social skills-the ability to communicate clearly, manage relationships, and influence others-are vital for leadership success. Emerging leaders must develop the capacity to foster collaboration, provide constructive feedback, and resolve conflicts in ways that strengthen rather than fracture relationships. Open, transparent communication and a willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints help leaders build cohesive, high-performing teams (Goleman, 1998).
Developing emotional intelligence is not a one-time effort but a continuous journey. Emerging leaders benefit from formal training programs and coaching focused on EQ, which provide structured opportunities for practice and feedback (Target Training Associates, 2025). Mentorship from experienced leaders who exemplify emotional intelligence can also accelerate growth. Moreover, cultivating a culture within the team that values emotional openness and feedback encourages everyone to develop these skills collectively (AIM, 2024).
The practical application of emotional intelligence is particularly important when facing common leadership challenges such as managing change, making difficult decisions, and addressing performance issues. For example, during organisational change, empathetic communication helps ease uncertainty and resistance, while self-regulation enables leaders to remain steady amid ambiguity. When making decisions, emotionally intelligent leaders balance data with intuition, considering both the practical and emotional impacts on stakeholders. Similarly, performance conversations conducted with empathy and clarity promote growth rather than defensiveness (Target Training Associates, 2025).
In summary, emotional intelligence is a critical competency for emerging leaders who aspire to lead with confidence, resilience, and integrity. By deepening self-awareness, honing self-regulation, nurturing motivation, practicing empathy, and enhancing social skills, leaders can transform challenges into opportunities for connection and growth. Ultimately, emotionally intelligent leadership not only drives better organisational outcomes but also creates workplaces where people feel supported and empowered to thrive.
References
AIM (2024) ‘How to: build an emotionally intelligent team’, Australian Institute of Management, accessed 30 April 2025, https://www.aim.com.au/blog/how-build-emotionally-intelligent-team
CCL (2024) ‘Emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness’, Center for Creative Leadership, accessed 30 April 2025, https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/emotional-intelligence-and-leadership-effectiveness/
Goleman, D. (1998) Working with emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.
RocheMartin (2025) ‘Emotional intelligence in leadership: driving excellence’, RocheMartin, accessed 30 April 2025, https://www.rochemartin.com/blog/emotionalintelligenceinleadershipdrivingexcellence
Target Training Associates (2025) ‘Embracing emotional intelligence in leadership development: a comprehensive guide’, Target Training Associates, accessed 30 April 2025, https://targettrg.co.uk/blog/embracing-emotional-intelligence-in-leadership-development-a-comprehensive-guide/
