The True Qualities of an Effective Leader

In the article titled, the emotional intelligence of leaders. Leader-to-Leader, Daniel Goleman explores the nontraditional qualities of a true effective leader. Opposed to the normal macho traits that are linked to leaders, Goleman believed that while those traits are important, they are not as vital as the traits of a leader with a high level of emotional intelligence, especially when it comes to producing measurable business results. Goleman stated that strong leaders posses high qualities of emotional intelligence whose components include self-awareness, managing emotions (self-regulation), motivation, empathy and staying connected (social skills). By analyzing data from psychologists, the author was able to find results that support his theory of the five factors of emotional intelligence being key factors in outstanding leaders. Throughout his article he explains each component fully.

The first trait that Goleman examines is self-awareness. In his article, Goleman defines self-awareness as “…a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and drives.” Leader’s whom posses this quality have faith in their decision making and the decision making of others. This promotes one’s confidence, and assists in defining his/her flaws and strengths, positioning them to not second-guess their decision or judgment. Strong leaders who carry strong traits of self-awareness tend to be more realistic when it comes to their potential and are less likely to set themselves up for failure.

The second trait Goleman analyzed was managing emotion (self-regulation). While examining self-regulation the author was able to state how good leaders create an environment that stimulates growth by increasing the morale of others. Emotions have a substantial effect on our decisions and actions. However, one who is able to control their emotions and actions is also able to navigate through a tough situation, as opposed to one who lacks the ability to control their...