In a recent Harvard Business Review article, it’s pointed out that leaders like Esther, who excel in kindness and positivity, might lack the ability to deliver challenging feedback, the courage to drive change, or the creativity to think innovatively. These gaps don’t indicate a lack of emotional intelligence but rather an uneven distribution of EI skills. A well-balanced array of specific EI capabilities, developed over time, prepares leaders for these tough challenges.
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The Four Domains of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept; it consists of four domains:
- Self-awareness: Understanding your emotions and their impact.
- Self-management: Regulating your emotions effectively.
- Social awareness: Recognizing and understanding the emotions of others.
- Relationship management: Interacting positively and productively with others.
Each of these domains is further broken down into 12 EI competencies, which are learnable and crucial for outstanding performance as a leader.
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