Have you ever considered the true power of emotions? While we often emphasise the importance of a high IQ, we tend to underestimate the value of a high EQ, emotional intelligence. Emotions are frequently associated with vulnerability or negativity, but in reality, they are a profound source of strength. Learning to manage your own emotions, whether positive or negative, and understanding how to navigate the emotions of others is a vital skill. It is, in fact, a cornerstone of impactful leadership.
Whether you’re curious about emotional intelligence, eager to strengthen your EQ, or a manager striving to become a more effective leader, this article is for you.
What Is Emotional Intelligence and Why It Matters?
Before understanding the value of emotional intelligence, it’s important to understand what it means. As the term suggests, it’s about being intelligent with emotions, managing your own and understanding the emotions of those around you.
But why should you care about having high emotional intelligence?
In today’s workplace, EQ plays a crucial role in career growth, leadership, and team success. You might have the skills and experience, but if you lack empathy or emotional awareness, it can become a serious obstacle. Organisations are increasingly looking for leaders who not only know how to get results, but who can also connect, support, and inspire those they lead.
The Core Components of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is made up of several key elements that together form the foundation for effective interpersonal and self-leadership. These components include:
- Self-Awareness
The ability to recognise and understand your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviour. - Self-Management
The capacity to regulate your emotions, adapt to change, and maintain control and integrity under pressure. - Social Awareness
The ability to empathise with others and understand the emotional dynamics within groups or organisations. - Relationship Management
The skill of building and maintaining healthy relationships, resolving conflict, and inspiring others through effective communication.
Fabian Bernhard’s Perspective
Fabian Bernhard, PhD, Professor of Management, researcher in Family Business & Psychology, and key faculty member of EDHEC’s Online MBA program, has conducted extensive research on emotions. He highlights how the four components of emotional intelligence are deeply rooted in our understanding and handling of emotionality.
According to him, it begins with how well we understand our own emotionality (self-awareness), how we manage it (self-management), how we perceive and interpret the emotions of others (social awareness), and ultimately, how we navigate and influence others’ emotions (relationship management). His perspective reinforces the relevance of these components in both personal and leadership development.
Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
If you manage a team, your goal is surely to ensure your team is productive, successful, happy, and innovative.
You might be wondering what the true link between leadership and emotional intelligence is. As Inge De Clippeleer, Head of Faculty, Management & Humanities, EDHEC Business School, shares:
“If you look at leadership nowadays, we really see that what we expect of our leaders is authenticity. We don’t expect them to play a role, we expect them to really be them and to embrace who they are, but then to also, of course, connect with people and to really make sure that people, their employees, feel seen.”
This reinforces the importance of emotional awareness in successful and strong leadership.
The Hidden Power of Negative Emotions
Positive emotions like happiness are often linked to productivity, innovation, and desirable work outcomes. However, negative emotions can also play a crucial role in creativity and innovation, a point that is often overlooked.
In a recent EDHEC Online Thought-Leadership webinar titled “How Emotions Can Fuel Creativity and Innovation,” Professor Fabian Bernhard invited us to rethink the power of emotions, particularly negative ones. He argued that, when properly understood and channelled, even emotions such as anger or guilt can lead to positive outcomes.
For example, a strong feeling of anger towards a situation or behaviour can motivate us to reflect and ask: How can I improve this? What can be done better? This kind of emotional energy can spark innovation and lead to constructive change.
When Negative Emotions Fuel Creativity: Insights from A Case Study
Professor Bernhard illustrated findings from a study he conducted with 150 professional actors. Each actor was asked to evoke a specific emotional state before completing a creativity task. One group focused on shame, another on guilt, and a third served as a neutral control group. The results were striking: the shame group averaged a creativity score of 2.5, the control group 2.8, and the guilt group the highest with almost 3.
So, what does this mean?
It suggests that guilt, unlike shame, may actually support creativity. This distinction is particularly relevant in leadership. The way a leader gives feedback can either hinder or encourage growth. Consider a scenario where a junior employee makes a mistake while trying something new. A response that induces shame, such as “Look what you’ve done. You should be ashamed of yourself,” may cause the employee to shut down. However, a guilt-focused response — “This didn’t work out, but here’s what you can try next time” — encourages learning and accountability without attacking the individual’s sense of self.
As Professor Fabian summarises:
“We shouldn’t suppress negative emotions, but we should guide our team towards the right kind of negative emotion. For example, towards guilt which can be beneficial as it drives accountability, rather than shame, which can undermine confidence.”
Helping employees recognise their responsibility through guilt, rather than diminishing their self-worth through shame, leads to a more constructive mindset. Over time, this behavioural focus fosters greater innovation and creativity within teams.
Keep track of our upcoming webinars
How To Improve Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is not a fixed trait; it’s a skill that can be cultivated over time through self-reflection, guided practice, and ongoing support. As Professor Fabian Bernhard puts it:
“Emotional intelligence is a skill you can develop. EDHEC offers courses that strengthen these abilities and give you a real advantage when managing people.”
Whether you’re a team leader, manager, or simply looking to grow personally, there are practical steps you can take to strengthen your EQ:
- Increase self-awareness
Reflect on your emotional triggers, reactions, and behavioural patterns to gain deeper insight into your own mindset and choices. - Practise self-regulation
Develop techniques to manage intense emotions, maintain composure under pressure, and respond constructively in difficult situations. - Build empathy
Improve your ability to read others by listening actively, observing body language, and showing genuine interest in different perspectives. - Seek feedback and coaching
Use input from others to uncover blind spots, challenge assumptions, and make intentional improvements in your emotional responses. - Apply learning in real-life contexts
Engage in collaborative work, coaching programs, or simulations to test and refine your emotional intelligence in action.
How EDHEC’s Online Programs Develop Emotional Intelligence
At EDHEC, we recognise the importance of emotional intelligence in shaping effective, forward-thinking leaders. Our online programs are designed to support professionals and managers in developing the self-awareness, empathy, and leadership agility required in today’s evolving business environment.
- Online MBA
This transformative 24-month journey includes Boost360, a personalised coaching program built around the four pillars of emotional intelligence. Participants learn to identify their strengths, address personal challenges, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves, all essential to leading and managing others with impact.
- Executive Master Management
With its dedicated YouDrive coaching component, this CPF-eligible program empowers professionals to grow through practical learning and introspection. It provides the tools to build leadership confidence, overcome behavioural obstacles, and thrive in complex roles.
- Online Certificate in Leadership & Transformation Management
Designed for those seeking a shorter learning experience, this 10-week CPF-eligible certificate equips participants with essential leadership and emotional intelligence skills, offering a rapid yet meaningful boost to their personal and professional development.
Whether you are looking to lead with empathy, navigate change with composure, or build stronger teams, investing in your EQ can be a powerful step forward. Choose the program that best fits your goals and ambitions and take the first step today.
