Leading from the heart: A study on effective leadership

There is a common saying, people do not leave their job, they leave their boss. An important reason an individual leaves their job is because of the relationship they have with their boss. Many organizations deal with turnover because direct reports have not connected or built a positive rapport with their boss. Leaders with high emotional intelligence typically demonstrate support for their direct reports in the workplace. Support from leaders comes in many forms including through active listening; empathy; understanding of the direct reports' thought process and motivations; and, providing emotional support through ongoing coaching and feedback. In other words, a leader with high emotional intelligence is responsive to their self-awareness and the awareness of others. Leaders who have developed the characteristics above have developed the skill of emotional intelligence (EI), helping them to build positive relationships with their direct reports.