When most people think about the qualities of a great leader, things like vision, strategic thinking, achieving outcomes, and decision-making ability usually top the list. However, there is one critical attribute that often gets overlooked in determining a leader’s effectiveness: emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to a person’s ability to recognize, understand, manage, and reason with emotions – their own as well as others’. Leaders with high EQ are self-aware, in control of their feelings and behaviors, and gifted at connecting with people and inspiring them.

A study by TalentSmart found that “90% of top performers are also high in emotional intelligence. On the flip side, just 20% of bottom performers are high in emotional intelligence. You can be a top performer without emotional intelligence, but the chances are slim.” The importance of EQ only increases as you move up the ranks. In fact, research consistently shows EQ to be a key differentiator between average leaders and outstanding ones – here’s why:

1. EQ allows you to truly motivate others. Logic alone won’t drive people to go the extra mile. Great leaders are skilled at tapping into the intrinsic motivators that inspire employees to give their best effort.
2. EQ enables better decision-making. Emotions profoundly influence the decisions we make. Research from the Harvard Business Review shows leaders with high EQ are better able to navigate the impacts of their feelings and those of their team when analyzing information and making decisions.
3. EQ fosters trust and commitment. Truly connecting with people on a personal, emotional level and understanding what’s important to them allows leaders to earn sincere buy-in and loyalty from their teams, rather than just compliance.
4. EQ promotes strong relationships. At its core, leadership enables teams to come together to achieve a common goal.  High EQ makes leaders adept at resolving conflicts, getting people aligned, and cultivating a healthy work culture.
5. EQ increases influence and motivation. Execution at the leadership level requires the ability to convince others and align them to your vision. EQ competencies like empathy, listening skills, and emotional self-regulation are powerful tools of influence.

If you don’t feel emotional intelligence is one of your strengths, fear not! While some people are born with a higher baseline of emotional intelligence, it is a learned skill that can be developed and improved over time.

According to research by Case Western Reserve University, EQ can be taught and improved through actions like:

• Soliciting honest feedback
• Practicing mindfulness
• Learning to identify and process emotions
• Developing empathy through active listening
• Responding vs reacting to feelings

In addition, Daniel Goleman, the author of Emotional Intelligence states “Emotional intelligence is the largest single predictor of success in the workplace.” His EQ theory contains five core components:

1. Empathy
2. Effective communication or social skills
3. Self-awareness
4. Self-regulation
5. Motivation

In today’s highly dynamic and demanding work environment, degrees, certifications, skills, and intelligence by themselves aren’t enough to make a great leader. True leadership depends on the ability to connect with people and cultivate emotional bonds. By cultivating and developing your emotional intelligence, you can vastly improve your capacity to create meaningful connections, inspire commitment, drive change, and achieve sustainable success.