The Human Edge in an Automated World
If I had to identify one refrain that permeates corporate culture today, it would be: “How can we use AI to enhance this?” And while this question is a crucial one, we should also keep in mind that in the midst of rapid changes facilitated by data overload, new technology, and the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), one human leadership quality continues to stand out: emotional intelligence.
More and more research—not to mention my own experience as a leadership consultant!—reveals that automation can enhance efficiency and AI can identify patterns, but neither of these technologies are capable of building empathy or trust. We need human connection for these core workplace characteristics! (I mean, can you imagine an office in which no employees trust one another? Something tells me that no matter how efficiently they’re introducing automation, they likely won’t be getting much work done!)
To develop these human connections, emotional intelligence is of the utmost importance, as emotional intelligence reflects our ability to both understand and manage our emotions while simultaneously recognizing the emotions of others. When it comes to leadership, we can examine emotional intelligence across four key dimensions:
What Emotional Intelligence Means in Leadership
First and foremost, being an emotionally intelligent leader in the workplace requires self-awareness. We need to pay attention to how our emotional display impacts both organizational decisions and our relationships with our employees!
From there, we can then develop emotional self-regulation, such as identifying moments when stress threatens to overwhelm us and making an active effort to find calm.
Once we have honed the skills of pinpointing and managing our own emotions, the next step is empathy—the intentional effort to understand and connect with the experiences of others. (Note the distinction from sympathy, which foregrounds our own personal plights! If sympathy is considering how someone else’s shoes would look on us, empathy is actually stepping into another person’s shoes—putting their experiences and feelings before our own.
Lastly, what follows from exercising empathy is cultivating social skills: clear communication, conflict resolution, and the development of trust!
When a leader practices each of these dimensions of emotional intelligence, they are practicing what we might fittingly call human-centered leadership.
But Dima, you may be asking, why does emotional intelligence and human-centered leadership actually matter in the era of automation? Well, let’s talk through it!
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters Now More Than Ever
Is it an overstatement to say that the modern workplace has never been more complicated? Maybe so, but every overstatement comes from at least a grain of truth! Leaders of today are working with remote teams, bridging generational differences across five generations in the workplace, navigating cultural nuances within multicultural and multinational teams, and not to mention managing constant change—from AI to beyond!
So, in such a complex environment, how and why is emotional intelligence so essential for leaders?
The modern workplace has never been more complex. We are leading remote teams, bridging generational differences, navigating cultural nuances, and managing constant change. In this environment, emotional intelligence is essential.
1. Building Trust in Uncertain Times
In my experience working with organizations from around the world, I have witnessed firsthand that trust blooms from emotional connection. Whether it’s bonding over dislike of cold weather or a shared favorite food or anything far more serious that falls between, when we relate to our peers, the simple result is that we trust them more! As leaders, then, when we respond to workplace conflicts with empathy and composure, we not only model the behavior we want others to embody but also earn the confidence of our team, creating a space of psychological safety that encourages honesty and collaboration.
2. Strengthening Inclusion
Building trust within our teams will inevitably produce a more inclusive environment! Practicing emotional intelligence as leaders means we are able to see beyond the limits of our own perspectives and better understand the diverse experiences of others. I firmly believe that inclusion in the workplace begins when every voice is valued, and emotionally intelligent leadership ultimately literalizes this belief—hearing the emotions of others, bringing others’ feelings to the table? These are key qualities of both emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership.
3. Driving Engagement and Innovation
Is it too cliché to observe that people perform better work when they feel seen, heard, and valued? The simple—and wonderful!—reality is that teams managed by leaders who foreground emotional intelligence demonstrate stronger collaboration, higher morale, and greater crerativity—the three key ingredients to organizational innovation! Might we describe emotional intelligence as… a recipe for success?
(Okay, okay. No more puns!)
How to Practice and Develop Emotional Intelligence
Like any good habit, emotional intelligence is a figurative muscle that will become stronger through constant practice—just be ready for some growing pains along the way! Here are my four key tips for how leaders can daily develop their emotional intelligence:
I believe that emotional intelligence is a muscle that grows stronger with consistent practice and reflection. Here are a few ways to nurture it every day:
1. Practicing Self-Awareness
As aforementioned, self-awareness is the first step to becoming a truly emotionally intelligent leader, so I cannot recommend enough the power of simply finding moments throughout the day to pause and ask: What am I feeling right now, and why? Taking a step back, whether it’s in a heated exchange or a positive one, to reflect on our emotional state cultivates the ability to respond with clarity over impulse.
2. Seeking Honest Feedback
While I think we all know honest feedback can be a tough pill to swallow, we nonetheless must grab a glass of water and commit! Regularly inviting feedback from both our colleagues and our clients not only creates a cycle of critical commentary but also ultimately normalizes the feedback process—it becomes part of our routine, no longer a frightening, one-off event! This feedback helps us improve our emotional intelligence as leaders by identifying areas in which we can continue to grow!
3. Leading with Curiosity
As a leader, curiosity is my favorite skill to practice! Leading with curiosity means asking questions rather than immediately assuming intent, helping transform potential defensiveness into productive dialogue. By allowing myself to lean into curiosity and wonder, I’ve found so many doors opened for friendship among my peers and employees that I am confident would have remained closed had I approached conversations with judgment instead.
4. Communicating with Empathy
Last but certainly not least, how can we forget communicating with empathy? Let me provide one crucial phrase to always have on hand during challenging conversations: “I can see how [x] impacted you.” Leading with emotional intelligence necessitates acknowledging emotion, that is, we have to resist the impulse to rush in and “fix” whatever has seemingly gone wrong! By practicing empathy, we will (re)build trust with others to create a bond even stronger than it was before!
The Future of Leadership Is Human
In the face of technological fearmongering, I always come back to the reality that even as technology evolves—as it always has throughout history, over and over again—leadership will evolve, too, because leadership is grounded in our shared humanity. The most effective leaders of tomorrow will be those who practice emotional intelligence! They will bridge the gap between innovation and humanity, foregrounding connection, and leading not only with strategy but with soul.
When we think of future leadership this way, it doesn’t feel so frightening, does it? So let’s journey into the future together, hand in hand!
Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. As the creator of the Next Level Leader framework, she empowers professionals to break barriers and elevate their leadership potential. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. In addition, she provides guidance to business executives to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and to implement a multi-year plan for advancing quality leaders from within the organization. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.
