Five Building Blocks of Emotional Intelligence For Every Association Leader to Consider
What separates the average, forgettable bosses and supervisors from extraordinary leaders?
The World Economic Forum says emotional intelligence (EQ)—is the ability to stay in touch with your emotions and those of others. According to their latest Future of Jobs Report, EQ is a top leadership skill in the modern workplace. It is arguably the most important leadership skillset of all.
Simply put, you must work on your emotional intelligence if you want to be a better association leader. Try these tips:
1. Practice Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is one of the pillars of emotional intelligence. Being self-aware is understanding your emotions and tendencies.
Reflect on situations that trigger strong emotional responses, both positive and negative. What prompted those feelings, and how did your reaction affect others?
Also, check your self-talk. Are you overly critical or negative toward yourself? A more compassionate inner voice can do wonders for your mindset and composure.
2. Put Yourself in Other’s Shoes
As an association leader, you’re dealing with members with different backgrounds, interests, and priorities. And you must look at situations through their eyes. That’s empathy.
You can practice empathy by considering issues from multiple points of view. What would Jim’s take be? How would Pam feel about this? Reading people’s body language can give you some helpful clues.
The more you work on stepping out of your head and being sensitive toward others, the better decisions you’ll make as a leader.
3. Control Your Emotions
Your team takes their cues from you on how to respond when the going gets tough. Are you poised and solutions-oriented in the face of major upheavals? That mindset is contagious!
But just as contagious is your unraveling over small fires. When receiving tough feedback or dealing with difficult interactions, resist getting defensive or lashing out.
Label your reactions (“I’m feeling frustrated” or “anxious”), but don’t let them control your emotions. Step away from the situation a bit to avoid saying or doing something you’ll regret five minutes later.
Take a break—go for a short walk, do some deep breathing, or try other calming techniques to recenter yourself.
4. Improve Your Social Skills
Leadership is about people, so make an effort to truly connect with others. Remember that small gestures go a long way.
Look people in the eye and put away distractions. Ask and listen patiently. Follow up with thoughtful questions to ensure you grasp their viewpoint.
Convey difficult messages with empathy. Avoid harsh language and be constructive with your words rather than just critical.
Be calm, fair, and encouraging when resolving conflicts among your members. Lastly, don’t skimp on praise when it’s earned.
5. Seek Feedback
We can be self-aware, but we still have blind spots. Ask your boss, colleagues, association members, or even friends and family how you come across in different situations.
Can you stay composed under stress? Do you listen well? It pays to have an outside perspective.
It’s not easy to endure criticism and it’s not fun to seek it out – but doing difficult things is at the root of any productive growth, so do it. Embrace the discomfort!
Putting It All Together
IQ and expertise may get you into a leadership role, but EQ endears you to people. Emotionally intelligent leaders create cultures of trust and inclusivity—environments where members feel empowered to voice ideas, take risks, and do their best work.
To be a better association leader take time to build your emotional intelligence—it’s really that cut and dried.