Management professionals dedicate significant time to developing their technical and organizational expertise. But in today’s dynamic environment, mastery of emotional intelligence (often referred to as emotional quotient, or EQ) is equally critical. While strong analytical skills and organizational abilities form the foundation of effective management, the ability to navigate social dynamics and emotional nuances defines an exceptional leader.
Emotional intelligence supports leadership in many ways — particularly in its importance to teamwork, communication and conflict resolution. Being able to work effectively with teams is a major factor in our success as leaders. Managers with high EQ can also handle challenging situations, foster inclusivity and create a positive work culture where employees feel valued and understood.
An MBA program, such as the one offered by Cal Lutheran’s School of Management, can help you improve skills relevant to EQ — which are often highly transferable and useful across a range of industries.
We believe that business schools should offer more to their students than courses, programs and degrees. We have created an environment that provides both insight and inspiration, that both nurtures and challenges.
In a hurry? Jump to what you’re looking for:
- What is emotional intelligence?
- Why is EI important in leadership?
- Developing emotional intelligence
- Gain Leadership Skills for a Positive Impact
What Is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Psychologists like Edward Thorndike, who published his definition of social intelligence in 1920, laid the foundation for our current understanding of this idea.
A modern framework for emotional intelligence began to take shape when researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey proposed the concept in 1990. Over time, their model has been reworked to create the version that many organizations refer to today.
The four branches of this model are:
- Perceiving emotions: Recognizing how you feel in the moment and picking up on others’ emotional cues.
- Using emotions: Tapping into your feelings to guide choices and behavior.
- Understanding emotions: Making sense of complex feelings and seeing how emotions interconnect (for example, recognizing that someone’s frustration could be masking their anxiety).
- Managing emotions: Regulating your emotional reactions and helping others do the same.
There are other models of emotional intelligence that vary in concept. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist known for his work in this area, proposes a model with these four categories:
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship management
Why Is Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Important in Leadership?
Strong emotional intelligence empowers leaders to cultivate a positive, resilient workplace where both people and business can thrive. The EQ of an organization’s leaders can have a lasting effect on workplace culture, employee retention and even the financial bottom line. For this reason, business degrees — including Cal Lutheran’s MBA program — often incorporate elements of emotional intelligence into the curriculum.
Organizational impact
Emotionally intelligent leadership plays a key role in shaping an organization’s culture. In addition to shaping internal policy to be more inclusive, leaders with high EQ also engage in positive personal interactions. This contributes to a workplace culture where employees feel valued and respected, leading to higher engagement and better performance across the organization.
Enhanced decision-making
Leaders who can regulate their emotions stay calm under pressure, enabling them to make well-considered decisions. In addition, their awareness of team dynamics allows them to anticipate challenges, mediate conflicts fairly and ease group tensions that may cloud judgment. With these skills, managers who have high EQ can develop effective business strategies that strike a balance between organizational goals and the emotional needs of employees.
Talent retention
Workplace turnover is closely linked to management quality. In a 2022 survey conducted by GoodHire, 82% of respondents stated that they would potentially quit a job because of a bad manager, highlighting an opportunity for emotionally intelligent leaders to enhance their organization’s stability. By offering supportive management that prioritizes employees’ well-being, these leaders can foster loyalty and minimize loss of talent.
Cost effectiveness
High turnover is expensive. The costs associated with hiring, onboarding and training quickly add up, especially for organizations that struggle to retain skilled employees. Once an employer gains a reputation for high turnover, it can become difficult to attract new hires at all, especially when seeking talent with advanced qualifications or in-demand expertise. For these reasons, effective leadership that reduces interpersonal conflict and minimizes turnover can save significant resources in the long run.
Tips for Improving Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Emotional intelligence isn’t decided at birth — it can be developed and strengthened with effort and practice. By engaging in practical strategies, managers can strengthen the core domains of EQ.
Graduate education that is designed to help managers hone high-level leadership skills, like Cal Lutheran’s MBA program, is one highly effective way to improve your emotional intelligence. Here are some other ways you can approach EQ development:
Reflection and self-assessment
Regular reflection encourages self-awareness, which is a key component of emotional intelligence. To be most helpful, your reflective practice should involve self-assessment that examines your strengths, weaknesses, emotional triggers and thought patterns. Taking the time for reflection and self-assessment is especially important for professionals seeking to identity areas for growth and improve their performance in the long term.
Attentiveness to others
Attentiveness to others also plays an important part in cultivating emotional intelligence. Depending on your strengths, you may find that attentiveness to others can come in many forms, such as:
- Recognizing behavior patterns that indicate when people are stressed or upset
- Active listening that helps others feel heard
- Closed-loop communication that ensures information is conveyed accurately
- Considering others’ needs when making decisions
- Observing nonverbal reactions to determine how people are feeling
You may find that some of these forms of attentiveness come more naturally to you than others. All managers have different strengths, so consider learning into the forms of attentiveness that come most easily to you. This can be an effective strategy for engaging with others in authentic and meaningful ways.
Taking accountability and responsibility
Taking responsibility for mistakes is critical to developing your emotional intelligence. Demonstrating accountability by mitigating harm and sincerely apologizing not only builds trust but also fosters a working environment rooted in continuous learning and collaboration.
Accepting feedback
Another crucial aspect of emotional intelligence is the ability to listen to feedback and implement changes based on that input. Your ability to handle criticism, even when it’s uncomfortable, both demonstrates your openness to improvement and also sets a positive example for others. When employees feel safe sharing and receiving feedback, this can improve organizational outcomes across the board.
Gain Leadership Skills for a Positive Impact
MBA programs are highly collaborative degrees, making them perfect for cultivating emotional intelligence alongside other essential leadership skills. Cal Lutheran’s MBA curriculum goes beyond traditional business principles to emphasize teamwork, group dynamics and effective communication. For example, our Organizational Behavior course explores the factors that drive individual and group behavior within companies. Through compelling case studies, you’ll discover how effective managers build strong teams, motivate colleagues and deliver outstanding results. You’ll also apply your learning through team-based projects, which provide a real-world opportunity to navigate interpersonal dynamics and enhance your EQ.
Our practical, comprehensive approach empowers you to lead with confidence, foster a positive workplace culture and drive meaningful change across your organization.
Earn Your MBA from the Cal Lutheran School of Management
Develop skills to stay competitive and showcase your value to organizations with Cal Lutheran’s MBA program.
The School of Management at Cal Lutheran is dedicated to producing graduates who are well prepared to succeed in their personal and professional lives — who lead, think, communicate and follow through with sustained excellence. As a Cal Lutheran School of Management student, you’ll learn from experienced faculty and benefit from personalized attention in small class sizes.
Download a program brochure or start your application for the Master of Business Administration.