The Skill That Will Define Leaders in 2025
AI and automation may be transforming industries, but there’s one leadership skill technology can’t replace: emotional intelligence (EQ).
Harvard Business School Online reports that 71% of employers value EQ over technical skills when hiring or promoting leaders. As Dima Ghawi teaches in her leadership programs, “Technical expertise might get you the role, but emotional intelligence determines whether you thrive in it.”
What Is Emotional Intelligence in Leadership?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to:
Recognize and regulate your own emotions
Understand and influence the emotions of others
Navigate relationships with empathy and clarity
Coined by John Mayer and Peter Salovey in 1990 and popularized by Daniel Goleman, EQ has evolved into a must-have leadership competency. Leaders with strong EQ foster trust, resolve conflicts effectively, and inspire higher team performance.
For leaders, mastering these skills goes beyond personal growth. It transforms entire teams.
The Four Core Components of Emotional Intelligence
1. Self-Awareness
Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers.
📌 Dima’s insight: “Before you can lead others, you must be honest about the emotions and beliefs guiding your own decisions.”
2. Self-Management
Staying composed under pressure, managing stress, and responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.
3. Social Awareness
Reading the emotional tone of a room and showing empathy across cultures, personalities, and experiences. Harvard’s research highlights empathy as the number one leadership skill linked to stronger decision-making.
4. Relationship Management
Influencing, coaching, and resolving conflicts in ways that strengthen trust. Leaders who avoid conflict often create hidden friction; those who address it constructively build loyalty.
Why EQ Is a 2025 Leadership Superpower
1. Builds Trust in Uncertain Times
Employees follow leaders they believe are authentic and transparent. EQ allows leaders to be real without losing authority.
2. Boosts Team Performance
High-EQ leaders cultivate collaboration, which Harvard research links directly to productivity and innovation.
3. Reduces Turnover
When employees feel understood and respected, retention rises and morale strengthens.
How to Strengthen Your EQ as a Leader
Harvard Business School and Dima Ghawi both recommend:
360-Degree Feedback: Compare your self-assessment with input from peers and direct reports.
Active Listening: Maintain eye contact, avoid interruptions, and paraphrase to show understanding.
Emotional Check-Ins: Pause to identify what you’re feeling before making decisions.
Leadership Coaching: Programs like Next Level Leader develop both the mindset and strategies to lead with emotional intelligence.
EQ in Action: The Dima Ghawi Approach
In her Next Level Leader program, Dima blends her global corporate experience with transformational storytelling to help leaders:
Build inclusive, high-performing teams
Navigate conflict with cultural sensitivity
Inspire action during organizational change
Her keynote clients often share that these EQ-focused strategies not only improved team morale but also directly impacted performance metrics.
Your Leadership Edge for the Future
Technical skills are essential , but in 2025 and beyond, emotional intelligence will be the differentiator. Leaders who master EQ create cultures where innovation thrives, trust runs deep, and teams remain resilient in change.
If you’re ready to elevate your leadership, explore Dima’s Keynotes and Next Level Leader program to unlock your full potential.
Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. 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.
