How can you develop your emotional intelligence at work as a manager?
Source: https://execed.unil.ch/en/blog/how-can-you-develop-your-emotional-intelligence-at-work-as-a-manager Parent: https://execed.unil.ch/blog/comment-developper-son-intelligence-emotionnelle-au-travail-en-tant-que-manager
5 minutes of reading
table of content
- 1. What is emotional intelligence in the workplace?
- 2. The 7 emotional skills managers need to develop
- 1. Emotional self-awareness
- 2. Self-control and stress management
- 3. Motivation and positive engagement
- 4. Active empathy
- 5. Mastery of emotional communication
- 6. Relationship and conflict management
- 7. Ability to inspire a positive emotional climate
- 3. Why focus on emotional intelligence in management?
- 4. How can you develop your emotional intelligence as a manager?
- 5. Example action plan: grid for strengthening emotional management skills
- 6. Managers, invest in your emotional intelligence at work!
Lionel Stoudmann author
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In an ever-changing professional world, emotional intelligence at work is essential for creating engagement, overcoming challenges, and inspiring collective performance. While technical skills remain essential, it is understanding emotions, the ability to regulate oneself, and interact effectively that today distinguishes inspiring managers who are capable of generating a positive atmosphere. But how can emotional intelligence be defined and developed in everyday leadership? Discover the seven emotional skills that every manager should cultivate for lasting success.
What is emotional intelligence in the workplace?
Emotional intelligence at work refers to the ability to identify, understand, express, and regulate one's own emotions and those of others in a professional context. Popularized by Daniel Goleman, this concept is based on five fundamental pillars:
- Emotional self-awareness
- Emotional self-regulation
- Motivation
- Empathy
- Social skills
For managers, mastering emotional intelligence means not only better managing stress or tension, but also strengthening team cohesion, a sense of belonging, and resilience in the face of change. Management research shows that emotionally intelligent leaders promote performance and talent retention (Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee: Primal Leadership, 2011).
The 7 emotional skills managers need to develop
Managers who want to improve their emotional intelligence at work need to invest in seven key skills:
1. Emotional self-awareness
Being able to name your own emotions and understand where they come from is the first step. This involves:
- Observe yourself without judgment.
- Recognize the influence of your emotional states on your decisions.
- Regularly ask your teams and peers for feedback.
Practical tip: Keep an emotional journal for a week to identify your triggers and associated reactions.
2. Self-control and stress management
Managers must learn to channel their reactions to frustration and pressure. Concrete levers:
- Establishing rituals to take a step back before acting (breathing, pausing, Socratic questioning)
- Ability to remain constructive in conflict situations
- Self-regulation of nonverbal communication
Good stress management helps avoid impulsive decisions and inspires confidence in the team.
3. Motivation and positive engagement
Emotional intelligence in management also means cultivating enthusiasm and perseverance, even when unexpected obstacles arise. This involves:
- Focus your energy on motivating goals
- Develop a growth mindset in the face of failure (test & learn)
- Celebrate collective and individual successes
Example: A manager who expresses sincere appreciation boosts the motivation of their employees.
4. Active empathy
Empathy, a core emotional skill, involves sincerely connecting with the emotions and needs of those you are interacting with. This involves:
- Listening without defensiveness
- The ability to rephrase and validate feelings
- Attention to diversity in contexts (intercultural, generational, etc.)
Managerial empathy strengthens trust and prevents many misunderstandings.
5. Mastery of emotional communication
An emotionally intelligent manager knows how to express their feelings assertively, without being aggressive or passive:
- Adopt nonviolent communication (NVC): observe, express, ask, propose
- Know how to give constructive feedback, even on sensitive topics
- Use emotions as a lever of influence (e.g., storytelling, mobilization in meetings)
Useful tool: adopt appropriate feedback grids (e.g., DESC method, CNV framework) to structure your messages.
6. Relationship and conflict management
Management inevitably involves dealing with disagreements, criticism, and even interpersonal stress. To turn these situations into opportunities for cohesion:
- Focus on active listening rather than dominating the discussion
- Identify and anticipate subtle signs of tension
- Encourage the joint development of solutions
Emotional conflict management contributes to more engaged, effective, and innovative teams.
7. Ability to inspire a positive emotional climate
Managers are true emotional conductors! Their attitude sets the tone:
- Lead by example by embodying enthusiasm, confidence, and openness.
- Encourage recognition, gratitude, and celebration of successes.
- Establish routines that promote cohesion (participatory brainstorming, team rituals, etc.).
International studies show that a positive emotional climate reduces turnover and improves customer satisfaction.
Why focus on emotional intelligence in management?
Integrating emotional intelligence into your management practice improves:
- Decision-making in uncertain contexts
- Change management and crisis resolution
- Adapting to diverse personalities and challenges
- Developing autonomy and accountability within teams
- The ability to innovate and remain competitive
These skills make the difference in achieving sustainable results, strengthening leadership, and inspiring confidence at all levels of the organization.
How can you develop your emotional intelligence as a manager?
Emotional intelligence in the workplace is not innate: it is developed through experimentation and continuous training. Here's how to make concrete progress:
- Train through programs specifically focused on leadership and emotional management skills.
- Regularly experiment with emotional intelligence techniques (mindfulness, stress management, personal assessment through feedback, etc.).
- Ask peers for feedback on your strengths and areas for emotional improvement.
- Implement a personal action plan tailored to your goals (e.g., managing stress in meetings, improving active listening, etc.).
Consider incorporating these steps into your individual development plan as well as into your company's collective initiatives.
Example action plan: grid for strengthening emotional management skills
- Day 1: Observe and note your emotions during key interactions.
- Day 2: Practice assertive communication when giving feedback.
- Day 3: Identify a tense situation and try out active empathy (paraphrasing, listening without judgment).
- Day 4: Ask two colleagues for feedback on your interpersonal style
- Day 5: Start practicing stress management techniques (breathing, mindfulness)
- Day 6: Publicly praise a team member
- Day 7: Assess your progress, adjust your plan, and set a new emotional goal for the following week
This iterative approach quickly generates visible results in terms of relationship quality and team dynamics.
Managers, invest in your emotional intelligence at work!
Developing emotional intelligence at work is a decisive competitive advantage in modern management. Managers who focus on these emotional skills boost performance, prevent conflicts, support change, and build employee loyalty. By investing in continuing education, you can transform your management style and create a lasting positive impact on both your team and your organization.
Lionel Stoudmann author
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