Leadership and Wellness: Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Next Competitive Edge
The skills that helped you secure your first leadership role probably won't sustain you in your next one. Technical expertise, strategic thinking, and industry knowledge remain valuable—but they're no longer sufficient for effective leadership in today's complex work environment.
The differentiator? Emotional intelligence.
A 2024 survey found that 71% of employers value emotional intelligence more than technical skills when evaluating candidates (Harvard Business School, 2024). Research by TalentSmart shows that emotional intelligence is the strongest predictor of workplace performance. And studies demonstrate that emotionally intelligent leadership directly correlates with better team outcomes, higher employee satisfaction, reduced burnout, and improved organizational results.
Yet many leaders—particularly men—have received little training in emotional intelligence. Traditional business education emphasized analytical skills, leaving a generation of leaders unprepared for the most critical aspect of their roles: the human element.
What Is Emotional Intelligence in Leadership?
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while recognizing and influencing the emotions of others. Psychologist Daniel Goleman, who popularized the concept, identified five core components:
Self-awareness: Understanding your emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and how your behavior affects others
Self-regulation: Managing emotions appropriately, staying calm under pressure, and adapting to change
Motivation: Internal drive to achieve goals beyond external rewards
Empathy: Understanding others' perspectives and responding with compassion
Social skills: Building relationships, communicating effectively, and managing conflict
These aren't soft skills—they're essential leadership competencies. Research shows that emotional competencies account for two out of three essential skills for effective performance across job positions globally (Goleman, 2002).
The Evidence for EI in Leadership
The research connecting emotional intelligence to leadership effectiveness is substantial. A comprehensive 2024 review of 101 empirical studies found that leader emotional intelligence is positively associated with a range of beneficial outcomes including improved leadership behaviors, enhanced well-being, and better performance (Gerhardt et al., 2025).
"Leaders who demonstrate empathy perform more than 40% higher in coaching, engaging others, and decision-making." — DDI Global Leadership Development, 2024
Emotionally intelligent leaders create tangible business results. Studies show they improve both behaviors and business outcomes while having measurable impacts on team performance (Heliyon, 2023). The Center for Creative Leadership found that managers who show more empathy toward direct reports are viewed as better performers by their own supervisors.
Perhaps most importantly for wellness, emotionally intelligent leadership protects against burnout. Information technology employees with more empathic managers reported fewer physical complaints like headaches and stomach problems (Goleman & Cherniss, 2024). When leaders manage their own emotions and provide empathic support, employees can withstand high stress without burning out—a critical finding in our age of workplace mental health crises.
The Male Leadership Gap
Here's where the conversation gets challenging. Traditional masculine norms that serve men poorly in personal wellness—stoicism, emotional restraint, independence at all costs—also limit leadership effectiveness.
Men leading in male-dominated industries face unique pressures. They're expected to project strength and certainty while navigating complex interpersonal dynamics. They're often judged more harshly for showing vulnerability or emotion. And they've typically received less socialization in the emotional skills that drive team cohesion and employee satisfaction.
The result? Many male leaders excel at strategy and execution but struggle with the relational aspects of leadership. They may have difficulty receiving feedback, reading team dynamics, or creating psychological safety—all skills rooted in emotional intelligence.
This isn't an individual failing—it's a systemic gap in how we develop male leaders. And it has real consequences. Research shows that when leaders lack emotional intelligence, teams experience higher turnover, lower morale, increased conflict, and reduced productivity (International Journal of Scholarly Research and Reviews, 2024).
Developing Emotional Intelligence
The good news: emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened. Unlike IQ, which remains relatively stable, EI improves with practice and intention. Leaders who invest in developing emotional intelligence see measurable improvements in their effectiveness and their teams' outcomes.
Key practices for developing EI include:
Regular self-reflection: Taking time to examine your emotional responses, triggers, and patterns
Seeking feedback: Actively asking for input on how your behavior affects others and being open to what you hear
Mindfulness practices: Developing present-moment awareness that allows you to notice emotions before reacting
Empathy building: Consciously practicing perspective-taking and considering others' experiences
Emotional vocabulary: Expanding your ability to identify and articulate specific emotions rather than lumping feelings into broad categories like "good" or "bad"
Community engagement: Connecting with other leaders facing similar challenges, sharing experiences, and learning from each other
This last point is particularly important. Emotional intelligence develops through relationship. We learn to understand emotions—our own and others'—through authentic interaction with people who are willing to be honest with us.
Creating Emotionally Intelligent Organizations
Individual leader development is essential, but it's not sufficient. Organizations must create cultures where emotional intelligence is valued, modeled, and rewarded. This means:
Training programs that explicitly develop EI competencies
Performance metrics that include relational and emotional skills
Leadership examples that demonstrate vulnerability and empathy
Policies that support mental health and work-life integration
Spaces for authentic conversation about challenges and growth
When organizations prioritize emotional intelligence, benefits cascade throughout the system. Employees report higher satisfaction and engagement. Teams collaborate more effectively. Innovation increases because people feel safe to take risks. And bottom-line results improve because emotionally healthy cultures retain talent and maximize productivity.
The INHERENT Approach
At INHERENT Self, we recognize that leadership and personal wellness aren't separate domains. The skills that make you an effective leader—self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, authentic communication—are the same skills that support mental health and fulfilling relationships.
The INHERENT Gentlemen's Society creates space for leaders to develop these competencies in community. Our gatherings aren't networking events where you perform success—they're authentic environments where leaders can practice vulnerability, share real challenges, and develop the emotional literacy that enhances every aspect of life.
We believe the next generation of male leaders will be distinguished not by their technical expertise or competitive drive, but by their emotional intelligence and commitment to holistic wellness. These leaders will create organizations where people thrive, not just survive.
Your Next Step
If you're in a leadership role—or aspire to be—investing in your emotional intelligence is one of the highest-leverage actions you can take. It will make you more effective at work, improve your relationships at home, and enhance your personal well-being.
Develop your leadership EI:
INHERENT Self Launch Event – October 30 at CO.A.T.I Uprise: Connect with leaders committed to growth
Inherent Wellness Exchange Launch – November 5 at Anthem Music Enterprises: Access resources for emotionally intelligent leadership
INHERENT Gentlemen's Society November Gathering – November 21 at 123 N Tejon St: Practice leadership skills in authentic community
INHERENT Self Podcast – Available now: Learn from leaders who've transformed their approach through emotional intelligence
The competitive edge in leadership isn't found in working longer hours or developing more technical skills. It's found in the courageous work of understanding yourself, connecting authentically with others, and creating environments where everyone can flourish.
Visit inherentself.org to learn how you can develop the emotional intelligence that drives both leadership excellence and personal wellness.
