Emotional Intelligence and Leadership 5 of 5

Excerpt from John J. Errigo's Thesis titled "Emotional Intelligence: A Positive Influence on Leadership Effectivness and Cohesive Team Development" (J. Errigo, Saint Joseph's University P. 36-37, 2009).

Pt5 Emotional Intelligence a Positive influence on team cohesion, developent and leadership.

Salovey & Mayer described emotional intelligence “as the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions” (p. 189). This basic definition of the foundational elements of the emotional intelligence theory set the stage for further discusion on the impacts of EI on workplace performance, interpersonal effectiveness, leadership and a leaders’ development of cohesive teams. The research has demonstrated, emotional intelligence is a developing theory which is instrumental in the workplace as well as within leadership effectivenss. Contrary opinons of EI are basically in agreement over the validity of the measurement of EI and support of how this new theory has to be further developed and scientifically backed. Even proponents of EI argue the construct of EI can be further enriched as a result of the negative literature and or discussions.

EI allows the leader to pick up the subtle nuances of emotion and to apply those emotions to efffectively manage the staff they lead. The emotional awareness of a leader and the awareness of others is helpful in being effective with the needs of their staff and their development. A leader who is emotionally intelligent is an effective leader since he is able to influence his staff to achieve organizational objectives, increasing their effectivness. The leader knows how to act and when based upon the careful observation of others. The leader is effective in developing cohesive teams since they are able to build cohesion through fostering and nurturing the relationships of the individual team members and within the team as a whole. The development of these interpersonal relationships are key in building a cohesive team. It is the emotionally intelligent leader who is able to recognize the steps necessary to build these interpersonal relationships with each individual team member.

An emotionally intelligent leader is able to develop cohesive teams since they know how to make decisions based upon the awarnes of their own emotions and the emotions of others. They know when to act, how and what steps need to be taken to accomplish the desired outcome. An emotionally intelligent leader is able to foster growth and the development of a cohesive team because they are carefully monitoring the situation and acting accordingly. A team is built by the emotionally intelligent leader since they are managing their emotions and the emotions of others to develop a collective identity.

All rights reserved (2010) and my not be duplicated or refernced without written permission of author: John Errigo, M.S., by corporate authorization, HODT, Inc. (synergy@hodtinc.com)