BUSINESS in cyprus
Leadership and Emotional Intelligence in the Modern Work Environment By Constantinos Kypriotis, Senior Manager, KPMG Limited
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tephen Covey, one of the most inspiring authors and experts on leadership, has frequently emphasised that leadership should not be confused with management, noting that “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.” In other words, leadership is not only about the effectiveness of doing things right but doing the right things and in an efficient manner. But why is leadership so important in the current working environment and how is this linked to emotional intelligence? Leadership is a person’s ability to engage in a process of encouragement, inspiration and guidance of others to perform a task. Ideally, the leader acts as the role model for others to follow and is the one who enjoys the team members’ acceptance. Their relationship should not be based on fear or intimidation. Successful leaders and successful companies are those that value and invest in a fruitful cooperation with the rest of the workforce for long periods, while at the same time cultivating trust, transparency and fairness. As Richard Branson notably advised: “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to”.
Emotionally Intelligent leaders Emotional intelligence plays a key role in companies and is closely linked to leadership as it reflects someone’s ability to coach others passionately and help them evolve. This can be achieved in a working context where goals are clear and every individual plays an important role in an environment where initiative, motivation, appreciation and mutual trust flourish. Competitive work environments change at laser-fast speed. Especially in settings where teamwork dynamics play an important role, emotional intelligence can be a
Emotional intelligence can be a game changer for success in a company game changer for success in a company. According to Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage our own emotions and to recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others. By doing so, the leader may encourage teams to outperform and exceed themselves, while capitalising on their abilities to the maximum. This relates to the long-term objective of most companies, which is the gradual
increase in revenues and securing the maximum performance from their employees. In the past, emotions in the working environment were treated negatively and often interpreted as signs of weakness or incompetence. The development of new technologies, the need for increased profitability, intense competition and the strict regulatory framework have led modern companies to take a different approach to management, which includes the emotional intelligence factor. Over the years, the business world has come to the conclusion that when emotions are managed effectively, this can lead to exceptional results. This is why companies now emphasise the fact that they consider their human capital to be their most valuable asset. When a team does not feel connected to the leader, it will show unwillingness and refrain from any positive effort. If the workforce is not satisfied, its performance will decline and that will inevitably have a negative effect on the company’s progress. On the contrary, if team members are satisfied and feel that they are an important integral part of the company, they are likely to be more productive. The relevant literature highlights the following five qualities of emotionally intelligent leaders: 1. Self-awareness, which relates to how one’s emotions, strengths
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and weaknesses affect others 2. Self-regulation, a trait in leadership coaching, which outlines the avoidance of believing in stereotypes, without prior knowledge of people, and the avoidance of verbal attacks and a lack of judgement 3. Motivation 4. Empathy and compassion, which includes the ability to recognise a perspective other than one’s own 5. Outstanding communication skills Are Leaders Born or Made? This is a challenging question, often raised by management experts and economists. A charismatic leader followed by a motivated team may be a decisive factor in the success of the company. Over the years, the perception has changed in the direction of the belief that, if someone is provided with the right tools and the proper guidance, leadership can be learned in time. Even the most gifted leaders, without proper training, achieve less than those who invest time and effort in developing and expanding their skills. Effective leadership should be a matter of personal effort for continuous professional development and self-improvement. To sum up, it is clear that leadership at work will always be a unique challenge, as was - and always will be- the art of managing people. The leader of the future is the one who is able to comprehend his/her own and others’ emotions and act accordingly. The leader who shows empathy and compassion to people is awarded with their loyalty. The emotionally intelligent leader activates teamwork, stimulates people to contribute their best and therby increases overall performance.
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