In growing a business, success isn’t just about following a plan; the most successful business owners and executives know that it’s about leaders finding ways to bring out the best in themselves so that they become leaders others want to follow and, most importantly, bring out the best in those they lead. Emotional intelligence is a critical tool for helping leaders grow themselves, their teams, and their businesses. Leaders who develop self-awareness and strong interpersonal connections with others can unlock their own potential and the potential of their teams, paving the way for organizational success.
Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence are the Cornerstones of Great Leadership
Good leadership starts with knowing yourself. During a recent webinar, we started with a simple exercise: identify a task you handle daily that you could pass on to someone else. This may feel uncomfortable, but that is normal. Often, leaders hesitate to delegate due to a sense of duty or a feeling that they “should” handle everything themselves. By delegating it, what time could you free up for higher-value work? Now consider that by teaching someone else the task, you are providing them a chance to grow.
One of the most pressing challenges for business owners and leaders in large organizations is distinguishing between how they “spend” their time vs “invest” their time. Most leaders lament not having enough time. This is why identifying what we can stop doing and then teaching it to others creates the space for wise personal time investment. “Effective leaders need to see their own habits and step back when necessary to let others step up,” explains Bob Nedal, Senior Vice President at think2perform. “By giving others the chance to shine, leaders can spend more time on what matters most.” This approach benefits not only the leader but also the entire team, creating opportunities for others to take on new challenges and grow their skills. This approach benefits the leader and the entire team, creating opportunities for others to take on new challenges.
Building Better Decision-Making Skills for Leadership
One characteristic of great leadership is continually refining decision-making skills. This has a direct impact on both personal and team success. Performance in any area of life is a combination of three things: talent, skills, and decision-making. While talent and skills are important, decision-making has twice the impact on performance as talent and skills combined. Leaders who intentionally develop the quality of their decision-making by using the lens of their core values can more effectively lead and guide others, becoming a leader people want to follow.
The Freeze Exercise for Real-Time Self-Check-Ins
Making our best decisions starts with great self-awareness. To lift our self-awareness game, we use a tool called the “Freeze Exercise,” a short reflection that helps leaders pause. By asking yourself three questions: What are you thinking right now? What are you feeling right now? What are you doing right now? Practicing this regularly helps break autopilot mode and sets leaders up to make more intentional, value-driven decisions. This quick exercise builds habits that improve both personal performance and sets leaders up to handle themselves more effectively in emotionally charged situations. Rather than reacting, the Freeze Exercise gives the leader the space to first think about how they want the interaction to go, increasing the odds they respond in a way that aligns with their values, and in the best interest of those involved.
Effective Delegation to Support Employee Growth
Delegation isn’t just a way to lighten a leader’s workload—it’s a chance to foster growth and build confidence within a team. When leaders assign tasks thoughtfully, they create opportunities for team members to develop new skills, feel more capable, and strengthen their sense of belonging. These feelings of capability, autonomy, and connection are powerful motivators that drive engagement and personal investment.
Take, for instance, Preston, a small business owner and one of our clients – name changed to protect our client’s privacy. Preston realized that by holding onto routine tasks, he was actually limiting his company’s potential. Once he began developing and entrusting his team to take these things on, he saw an immediate impact: his team members grew in confidence and expertise, and the organization started running more smoothly. He was able to invest more of his time in strategic thinking and the future of the business. By letting go, Preston created a culture where his team felt empowered to step up, and the business thrived as a result.
think2perform‘s Breakthrough Leadership Program
To support current or emerging leaders in mastering these skills, think2perform offers the Breakthrough Leadership Program, starting on January 24, 2024. The program will cover all of these topics and more. The program is nine-sessions and combines practical leadership training with emotional intelligence skills, giving leaders hands-on guidance and coaching. Participants walk away with tools to become stronger, more intentional leaders who can create lasting, positive change.
Leading with Emotional Intelligence for Lasting Growth
Emotional intelligence is more than just a “soft skill”—it’s a powerful way to grow your business. As leaders become more self-aware and bring their actions in line with their values, they inspire those around them. The result? A culture of growth that supports everyone’s success.
