Reconnecting with our Teaching Roots: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence in Our Leadership Styles

Do your reflections ever bring you full circle?  For me, that point is the elementary classroom—a place where leadership, emotional intelligence, and continuous learning collide.

Early in my career, I stepped into the chaos, creativity, and wonder of guiding young minds. As a teacher, you learn to lead with softness without losing sight of your purpose, to empathize deeply but still organize your day around the undeniable truth of a ringing school bell.

Fast-forward a decade, and I found myself navigating a starkly different landscape—the corporate world. Yet, the emotional lessons ingrained in my role as an educator stayed with me, secretly guiding my approach to leadership in learning and development. 

In both scenarios, at the heart of success lies an underlying thread—Emotional Intelligence. This idea holds the power to make or break our leadership styles—be it in the classroom or the office.

A study by TalentSmart, testing EQ alongside 33 other essential skills, found that emotional intelligence accounts for 58% of job performance in all types of jobs [1]. 

Think about that—almost 60% of what makes us effective in our work stems from our capacity to understand, use, and manage our own emotions and those of others.

How then can we practice emotional intelligence in our own leadership styles? Here are three practical steps to take:

1. Embrace your role as a learner:  Just as we did as teachers, accept that you're perpetually in a learner's shoes. Have the humility to continue learning, especially from those you lead. This helps foster a learning culture within your teams.
2. Exercise empathy: Make it a habit to see the world from your team’s perspective. Understand their challenges, aspirations, and inspirations. This not only helps you connect at a deeper level but also aids in crafting solutions that resonate with them.
3. Practice transparency: Make honesty and transparency your top priority. It builds trust and encourages open communication, in turn, contributes to a psychologically safe work environment.

Leadership, much like teaching, requires a delicate balance of structure and freedom, of strategy and empathy. It’s a dance that combines well-crafted steps with room for improvisation.

My favorite classroom memories are those unexpected “lightbulb” moments—when a student’s expression switches from bewilderment to understanding. Today, I strive for these moments, creating a space for discovery, growth, and transformation.

Reflect on the leaders you admire. How have they leveraged emotional intelligence to influence and inspire? And more importantly, how can you?

[1] Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.