Being emotionally intelligent is becoming a big deal in the workplace, especially if you're a leader or work with a team. Knowing what you and others are feeling can really help things run smoothly.

The recent success of Inside Out 2 totally shows us why understanding our emotions matters. It follows Riley, a 13-year-old figuring out life and all its crazy feelings, and while it’s undoubtedly a touching story, it also offers valuable lessons in emotional intelligence.

As Babson College professor Wendy Murphy points out, the film demonstrates how effectively managing emotions can significantly enhance leadership abilities. 

What is the Impact of Emotional Intelligence?

Being a good leader isn’t just about effectively managing people. You have to know yourself, control your feelings, and understand how other people feel. It’s about being a good friend to your team, but with more responsibility. When you can do that, you’re better at making tough calls and guiding everyone in the right direction.

Self-awareness and self-management

Self-awareness allows leaders to recognize their emotions and understand how these emotions influence their behavior and decision-making processes. It helps them understand why they act the way they do and make better choices. But knowing what you feel isn’t enough. You also need to control how you show your emotions, especially when things get tough. 

The animated film illustrates these concepts by depicting characters navigating intricate emotional landscapes, helping viewers—and leaders—grasp the importance of understanding and managing their emotional responses effectively.

Empathy through social awareness

Leaders need to be good at understanding how others feel. Empathy is a superpower that helps them connect with their team. 

The movie Inside Out 2 is pretty cool because it shows how our brains work and how our feelings mix together. This can teach leaders to think about how their actions make others feel. When leaders can do this, it makes everyone happier and works better as a team.

Power of vulnerability

People often think being vulnerable is a weakness, but guess what? It can be a power, especially for leaders! When you’re honest about your feelings and mistakes, it makes you seem more real and helps you connect better with your team. It’s like those characters in the film who show us it's okay to feel scared or unsure. 

As Murphy emphasized, when leaders are open about their vulnerabilities, it humanizes them and strengthens their relationships with their teams​.

Leading by example

Leaders set the example for their team, like a captain on a ship. When they show they can handle their feelings in a calm and collected way, it teaches their team to do the same. 

The film underscores the importance of leaders demonstrating calm and effective responses to emotional challenges, which can serve as a blueprint for the team to follow, leading to a more emotionally intelligent organization​

Model leadership approaches

Things have changed since the wake of the pandemic. Well, it's not just our lives that got turned upside down, but also how we see leadership. People are starting to realize that being a leader isn't just about giving orders. It's about really understanding how others feel and being smart about handling those emotions. That's what makes a great leader these days. 

The film shows us how important it is to be in tune with your feelings to lead a successful team. It's like, if you can't handle your own stuff, how can you expect to help others deal with theirs?

Role of transparency

Transparency is crucial in reducing anxiety and stress within organizations. Just like in the film, talking openly about how we feel can really bring us closer as a team and make us trust each other more. If leaders are upfront about what’s going on, it helps everyone feel relaxed and know where we're headed as a company.

How Leadership Training Can Help

Leadership training emphasizes understanding yourself and other people, and knowing how to talk things through. If you want to be a great leader, you need to learn continuously – this can totally change how you work with your team, deal with problems, and get everyone excited about reaching goals.

Here’s how leadership training can help develop emotional intelligence among team members:

1. Develops core emotional intelligence skills

Leadership training programs are designed to enhance the core components of emotional intelligence:

• Self-awareness: Knowing yourself is like knowing your own backyard. It's about understanding your feelings, what you're good at, where you could improve, and what you truly believe in. Great leaders know how their moods can change what they think and do; they also understand how others see them.
• Self-regulation: Being calm in a crazy storm—that's self-regulation or self-management! It's about managing your feelings, especially when things get tough. Good leaders can stay cool, think clearly, and express themselves without blowing up.
• Motivation: Motivation is like having a fire inside you. It's that drive to reach your goals, keep getting better, and aim for the best. Amazing leaders are passionate about their work and can spark that same excitement in their team.
• Empathy: Empathy is the magic power to understand how others feel. It helps leaders connect with their team on a deeper level, building trust and loyalty. Good leaders can talk openly, solve problems together, and make everyone feel like they belong.
• Social skills: People skills are having a superpower for getting along with others. Great leaders are good at making connections, convincing people, and creating a happy workplace. They can handle tricky situations, make deals, and lead change smoothly.

These learning programs help leaders learn what makes them tick and how to handle their feelings. Training allows leaders to practice in real-life situations. Leaders need to stay calm when things get crazy! This way, they can make smart choices, not just quick ones.

2. Fosters better communication

Effective leadership isn't just about giving directions. It's about talking to your team in a way they get. 

Great leaders know how to say things clearly and kindly. They practice having make-believe conversations to get better at talking to people. This helps them be more understanding and supportive, which makes everyone feel like they can share their thoughts and ideas without being scared.

3. Promotes adaptability and resilience

The modern workplace is constantly evolving, and leaders need to be flexible and tough to handle all the ups and downs. 

Leadership training helps leaders learn how to see problems coming, roll with the punches, and guide their team through tough times. They learn to stay calm and think clearly, even when things are crazy. That way, they can lead their team with confidence and know exactly where they're going.

4. Supports long-term leadership development

Being emotionally intelligent isn’t something you just learn once and done. It’s like a muscle you need to keep strong. 

Leadership training is the gym for your brain, helping you build those emotional smarts. By going to workshops, talking things over with a coach, and chatting with other leaders, you can keep up with the latest tips and best practices. This keeps you ready to handle whatever your team or company throws your way.

Final Takeaways

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill set that can transform the way you lead and how your team performs. By developing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, you can create a more cohesive, productive, and resilient work environment. 

When you know yourself well and can handle your emotions, it helps everyone stay calm and focused, even when things get tough. Plus, being able to see things from other people’s point of view makes it easier to work together and achieve amazing results.

Investing in leadership training that focuses on emotional intelligence is an investment in your team’s future. At Intellezy, we understand that every organization is unique, which is why we offer customized learning experiences designed to meet your specific needs. Our training programs are designed to upskill your workforce, helping them improve efficiency, productivity, and overall performance.

Take the next step in developing emotionally intelligent leaders! Request a free trial with Intellezy today and discover how our tailored training solutions can empower your team to reach new heights.