The type of leadership described by Daniel Goleman is tied to such a concept as emotional intelligence. According to him, it consists of four components: self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills (Big Think, 2012). Their combination helps the individual to control themself better and build more productive relationships, starting from the management of emotions, a positive attitude, and listening to the feelings of other people. The foundations of this approach to leadership are quite different from the ethical leadership approach I am more accustomed to. This type of management is based on ethics and team interaction, relying on honesty, fairness, and respect (Villirilli, 2021). Simultaneously, emotional intelligence focuses more on the role of the leader, calling for the development of internal qualities. Consequently, these two methods are fundamentally different in their focus and functioning features.
However, from my perspective, some of the elements of emotional intelligence can be successfully borrowed, bringing benefits both in the work aspect and personal life. First of all, self-management seems to me the most attractive element. In Mr. Goleman’s understanding, it is focused on managing negative emotions and promoting a positive outlook on the world (Big Think, 2012). Such an approach can significantly facilitate the interaction with various problems, allowing the leader to find positive elements even in the most unpleasant situations. In addition, I consider empathy to be an essential component of human life. Although it is not included in the leadership style that I am used to, without sufficient empathy, it is impossible to build effective and trusting relationships. Therefore, I would also like to develop my empathy better.
It seems to me that the development of these qualities can significantly contribute to building more successful relationships, including outside the workspace. First of all, a positive attitude and the ability to feel the other person’s emotions can benefit personal interactions with people. A person who can stay optimistic in difficult situations and feel the mood of others can become a much better friend than an individual without these qualities. In addition, the components of emotional intelligence leadership can be valuable for interacting with children. If they are raised with elements of this approach, they will develop healthier relationships themselves, exhibit more positive behavior, and have better academic performance (Big Think, 2012). Thus, this type of leadership can be extremely useful in both personnel management and personal interactions outside of work.
References
Big Think. (2012). Daniel Goleman introduces emotional intelligence | Big Think [Video]. YouTube.
Villirilli, G. (2021). The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one. BetterUp.