October 2024

This is Emotional Intelligence at Work, a newsletter about workplace culture, employee wellbeing, and how to create sustainable, thriving businesses. This is the browser version. If you want to get the monthly newsletter free in your inbox, you can subscribe here.

Exploring the Guiding Principles of Exceptional Leaders

What separates exceptional leaders from average or even toxic ones? It’s emotional intelligence. But more specifically, it’s a mindset that sets aside one’s ego, balances complexity, and focuses on serving others and lifting them up – fueled by emotional intelligence. Today we’ll explore these secret principles driving the very best leaders.

If you’re not already part of it, I highly recommend joining The Emotional Intelligence Network Group on LinkedIn, which is where a lot of today’s content comes from. It’s 770K members strong, and always provides a steady stream of high quality content on leadership, emotional intelligence and workplace performance, among other topics. And for even more free content and updates on upcoming courses and events, follow Six Seconds. Let’s dive in on leadership! 🎉

5 Thought Provoking Leadership Quotes

Frequently in the LinkedIn group, contributors will post quotes or graphics that cause me to stop in my tracks and think about the post’s meaning. You’ll see content from one such contributor, Justin Wright, come up several times in this newsletter. Here are 5 thought provoking leadership quotes from the group or frequent contributors to the group:

1. “Great leaders don’t just manage tasks – they manage emotions.”
– Przemyslaw Lagodzinski

As we like to say at Six Seconds, “Emotions drive people, and people drive performance.” Exceptional leaders recognize this and focus on people’s feelings – including their own.

2. “Be the type of leader who leaves a mark, not a scar.”
– Justin Wright

Consider the impacts of your leadership style in a broader context. How will people remember you in 5, 10, or 20 years? What type of mental and emotional mark are you leaving?

3. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
– Sheryl Sandberg

This speaks to the fact that true leadership is about empowering others and lifting them up, in a way that supersedes them “needing” you or your help. It’s not about micromanaging; it’s about empowering.

4. “Leadership is about others. Who you help. What they accomplish. How you make them feel.”
– Justin Wright

The irony of servant leadership is that the more you focus on the people you’re serving, the better a leader you become.

5. “Leadership is about seeing the best in people and giving them opportunities to show it. It’s helping others become the best version of themselves.”
   – Justin Wright

Leadership about believing in others and setting them up for success.

What Do Exceptional Leaders Do Differently?

While these quotes are inspirational, how can leaders put them into practice? Here are 12 concrete actions that the best leaders consistently do, courtesy of Justin Wright’s LinkedIn post:

• Believed in us
• Trusted us to do good work
• Led by example
• Listened with empathy
• Respected our personal lives
• Offered us flexibility
• Welcomed our ideas
• Invested in our growth
• Gave us honest feedback
• Challenged us to be our best
• Forgave our mistakes
• Admitted when they were wrong

Which one of these is the hardest for you to practice with others? Which ones have leaders done for you?

7 Valuable Lessons for First-Time Leaders – or Honestly, Any Leader

To become a leader people remember, follow these 7 principles Wright shared in this graphic in The Emotional Intelligence Network LinkedIn group.

1. Delegate; don’t micromanage.

Your job is to lead and empower; not to do everything yourself. Trust your team to handle tasks without constant oversight.

2. Have tough conversations early.

Don’t avoid difficult conversations about underperformance or conflicts. Nip problems in the bud before they fester and escalate.

3. Give timely, specific feedback.

Don’t wait for annual reviews. Provide frequent, actionable guidance based on behaviors, not vague generalities. Give recognition for good work, too.

4. Tailor your style to each person

One size doesn’t fit all. Take time to understand what motivates and matters to each individual. Adapt your approach accordingly.

5. Listen more than you talk.

Resist the urge to jump in with your opinion. Ask questions, hear people out fully, and create space for ideas and concerns.

6. Make time for big-picture thinking.

It’s easy to get sucked into daily fire drills. Block off time to reflect on team goals, challenges, morale, and your own growth as a leader.

7. Remember you’re human too. 

Being a leader doesn’t make you superhuman. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll have doubts. Cut yourself some slack and keep learning.