You're leading an IT strategy team. How can you leverage emotional intelligence for effective leadership?

Balancing Emotions is very important for the success of yourself, the team which one is leading and finally for the success of the Organization. If the boss can handle emotions well during success and failure of the task, it gives good motivation to the team. During the tenure of the professional journey, two factors are important, knowledge of the job and emotion. Wrong emotions during wrong time and highly good emotions during good situations would give wrong signals and thus balancing of emotions are very important to lead team.

Emotional Intelligence is one of the essential tools in leading high performing teams together with effective communication skills. It starts with having a high level of self-awareness and understanding your own emotions followed by understanding the needs of team members and providing them with a safe and healthy environment where they can contribute positively. Leaders and team mates with high emotional IQ are one of the most valuable resource and reason for team member to add continued value and staying loyal to an organization.

Emotional intelligence can help IT strategy leaders develop a better self-awareness of the current capabilities and gaps within IT, objectively evaluate the business end user perception about IT, be more empathetic to customer needs and ultimately work collaboratively with organizational stakeholders to make make better decisions about the IT systems road map and IT strategy needed to meet the needs of the enterprise over next 3 to 5 years. This process helps avoid taking an inside-only perspective only or creating strategy in a vacuum, which can lead to wayward initiatives, demoralized workforce, and a dissatisfied customer.

No sólo la inteligencia emocional es importante sino también la inteligencia cultural. Este tipo de inteligencia ayuda entender que costumbres son aceptables en cada cultura, en cual es la cosmovisión de la persona de esa cultura. Entre un entendimiento cabal de nosotros mismos, asi como de nuestra cultura en comparación con otras, está la clave de utilizar el equipo de manera que rinda de forma óptima.

A combination of factors is necessary. If you listen actively, you develop empathy, motivate people to interact, and encourage discussion. Emotions will appear and then emotional regulation is required. In private, giving constructive feedback to each person will help them grow and know how to handle difficult situations. The leader is the coach.

Self awareness is important so you're responsible for what you contribute to a team as well as have an ability to focus on what others, who are less self aware, are also able to contribute positively to a team and their goals. Observation allows one to have more accurate information to draw from.

For emotional intelligence, awareness is the foundation. Any emotion which surfaces in mind, creates ripples and changes at physical level. What I found very interesting is Vipassana technique which provides you a ability to become aware of such changes. Once we know at the very root level, we can change our pattern of reaction. This change in reaction will make you control results which otherwise not possible.

In my experience it's best to utilize the particular skills and strengths of your existing team ... some of them will be brash and upfront, then the less outgoing ones will come in with observations and corrections, but you'll have to make sure to reach out to the quiet ones who will hold out their criticism because they think no one shares their viewpoint. Once the opinions are out there, the effective leader will build consensus on the best current options from all the discussion and make sure the team is pointed and rowing in the same direction. The best leaders will check in regularly and make sure the team is operating at speed and scale, sees your investment of time and attention, and has no issues.

Active listening is necessary behavior in strong leaders. Practice it genuinely to listen to all parties patiently by encouraging their inputs and opinions. Ask clarifications to ensure you understand opinions and inputs, your attention and being completely present ensures they feel their voice was clearly heard. Timely decision making is still important but you will deliver quality decisions which have good alignment, as most believe they contributed to it.

Jede Stimme, die gehört wird, und wenn möglich auch bei einer Entscheidung respektiert werden kann, trägt zu einem wachsenden Vertrauen in die Führung und in das Unternehmen bei. Letztlich wird auch der Teamzusammenhalt verbessert.

Active listening involves being fully present during conversations, demonstrating empathy, and validating team members' feelings. By attentively listening to their concerns and feedback, leaders can build trust, foster collaboration, and create a supportive environment. This approach not only enhances communication but also helps in understanding team dynamics, leading to more informed decision-making and improved team morale.

In IT leadership, active listening is not just a soft skill but a critical component of emotional intelligence. It goes beyond hearing words to understanding the underlying concerns, emotions, and motivations. When leaders actively listen, they create an environment where team members feel valued and understood. This approach can uncover issues early, foster innovation, and improve decision-making processes. By paying close attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, leaders can build stronger relationships, enhance team collaboration, and navigate the complexities of IT projects with greater ease.

However more one emphasises on the importance of Active Listening, it will be less that its actual impact on everything. Active Listening is an outcome of participating in a conversation, and the contribution is in the form of listening and assessing what the other is saying. This helps in (a) ice breaking, (b) conveying participation (and not just giving a hearing) (c) resolving, jointly, whatever be the problem that is being discussed. Active Listening also breeds respect and bonding, and developing of a relationship, and is a key contributor to team building.

La escucha activa es necesario en todos los sentidos, con nuestros equipos de trabajo de TI como en una sencilla venta, para mi es nuestra venta interna. La escucha activa nos permite entender y empatizar con la situación que nos comenta la otra persona, nos permite ver otros puntos de opinión y tomar mejores decisiones. Además, nuestra el respeto y valor a la persona que te está presentando sus argumentos.

Aktives Zuhören ist ein entscheidender Bestandteil der emotionalen Intelligenz, der Ihre Führungsqualitäten erheblich verbessern kann. Es bedeutet, sich vollständig auf das Gesagte zu konzentrieren, anstatt die Botschaft nur passiv zu hören. Als Leiter Ihres IT-Strategieteams sollten Sie bewusst auf die Ideen, Bedenken und Rückmeldungen Ihrer Teammitglieder achten. Dies gibt ihnen nicht nur das Gefühl, wertgeschätzt und verstanden zu werden, sondern bietet Ihnen auch vielfältige Perspektiven, die Ihre strategische Planung bereichern können. Aktives Zuhören fördert inklusivere Entscheidungsprozesse und eine Kultur, in der jede Stimme gehört und respektiert wird.

A escuta ativa requer prestar atenção de fato ao que está sendo dito, em vez de ouvir de forma passiva. Como líder de uma equipe de TI, é importante escutar conscientemente as ideias, preocupações e feedback dos membros. Isso não só faz com que eles se sintam valorizados e compreendidos, mas também oferece percepções valiosas que enriquecem o planejamento. A escuta ativa leva a uma tomada de decisão mais inclusiva, criando uma cultura onde todas as vozes são ouvidas e respeitadas. Isso, por sua vez, melhora a motivação, o engajamento e o senso de pertencimento. O líder ganha acesso a uma gama maior de ideias que geram soluções mais criativas e eficazes.

Pratique a escuta ativa com sua equipe. Demonstre interesse genuíno nas preocupações e ideias de cada membro, fortalecendo a confiança e o engajamento.

Active listening is a powerful tool for IT and AI leaders. By fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and innovation, you can lead your team to achieve remarkable success. Embrace active listening as a core leadership practice, and watch your team’s performance and morale soar.

Acknowledging stressors alone isn’t enough. After the emotions have cooled off, its time to revisit the situation and jointly make plan of action and execute it. Being open and transparent helps to speed things up while ensuring that team isn’t stuck in negativity.

Empathy in action key factor for creating and maintaining successful teams. Some times team members may be facing tough situations. In dynamically changing world , there can be some unknown problems surfacing up, there may not be organizational process assets that are readily available to solve the challenges. In such situations team sees for empathy from manager. Sometimes time might be running out , deliverable need to be sent out to stake holders , Team is honestly working . In such situations , empathy from leadership changes the direction of the project and makes failures into success with in small time.

I agree, also i have my custom methodology based on my 40 years experience in supervision role and a perspective developed over time.

La empatía con nuestros equipos y en la vida en general, nos permite entender las situaciones que la otra persona está teniéndo. Nos permite ponernos ambos en un mismo nivel y que los imputs y outputs de información entre ambos sea equitativa y equilibrada. Da respeto y empodera al empleado para poder abrir más su conocimiento

Empathy in IT leadership bridges the gap between technical solutions and human-centered approaches. It enables leaders to understand the challenges their team faces and respond with compassion, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement. Demonstrating empathy helps IT teams manage stress, maintain morale, and remain motivated even during high-pressure projects. As an IT leader, showing genuine care for your team's well-being can enhance loyalty and reduce turnover, creating a more productive and cohesive working environment that prioritizes both the people and the technology.

Empathie ist die Fähigkeit, die Gefühle einer anderen Person zu verstehen und nachzuempfinden. Im Kontext der IT-Strategie bedeutet Empathie, die Stressfaktoren und Herausforderungen anzuerkennen, denen Ihr Team bei komplexen technischen Projekten gegenübersteht. Wenn Sie Empathie zeigen, schaffen Sie eine unterstützende Atmosphäre, die Teammitglieder ermutigt, ihre Gedanken und Herausforderungen offen zu teilen. Dies führt zu effektiverer Zusammenarbeit, da die Teammitglieder spüren, dass ihr Leiter auf ihre Bedürfnisse eingeht und sich für ihr Wohl interessiert, was wiederum die Motivation und das Engagement für die Ziele des Teams steigern kann.

Being in empathy helps in relationship and trust building and also in resolving crises and problem situations. Empathy is one of the critical characteristics of a Leader; though it is important for and to everyone.

A empatia, ou seja, a habilidade de se identificar e compartilhar os sentimentos dos outros, é fundamental para a liderança em TI. Com essa sensibilidade, o líder entende os desafios e estresses que sua equipe enfrenta em projetos técnicos complexos, criando uma atmosfera de apoio. Isso encoraja os membros a compartilharem suas dificuldades, promovendo uma colaboração mais eficaz. Os membros se sentem valorizados e, assim, mais motivados e comprometidos com os objetivos da equipe. O líder empático consegue captar melhor as perspectivas da equipe, enriquecendo o processo de decisão e planejamento. Em suma, a empatia ajuda a construir laços fortes, cultivar um ambiente positivo e impulsionar a performance da equipe.

Coloque-se no lugar da sua equipe. Compreenda suas motivações, desafios e perspectivas, promovendo um ambiente de apoio e compreensão mútua.

I find it helpful to work with peers and leadership that both provides direction but also maintains a sense of humor. After all everyone's quality of life depends on the quality of their workday too since we spend so much of our time working

Emotional regulation is a crucial aspect of leading with emotional intelligence, particularly in the fast-paced, high-stakes world of IT. Leaders who can manage their own emotions effectively set a positive example for their team, maintaining composure even in challenging situations. By staying calm and composed, leaders can make more rational decisions, reduce stress, and prevent conflicts from escalating. Emotional regulation also ensures that the team remains focused and productive, even when faced with tight deadlines or unforeseen challenges, thereby driving more consistent results.

Gerencie suas emoções sob pressão. Mantenha a calma em situações estressantes e tome decisões racionais, demonstrando equilíbrio emocional.

Feedback is often confused with criticism, and criticism is associated, usually, with blame fixing. A constructive feedback communicates (a) situational understanding, (b) assessment of cause / causes leading to a particular situation / problem / crisis, (c) intent to find a solution, (d) and communicating what went wrong, what caused the situation, and with whom the responsibility rests and how the situation can be resolved. It also helps when applauing someone for his/her performance by pointing out what all contributed to the person's success and acknowledging those capabilities, and what all could have been done better, and identifying those characteristics that need to be worked upon, and the work that is required to be done.

Based on experiences, delivering feedback to be delivered in a specific, actionable, and balanced with positive reinforcement ensures that team members feel supported rather than criticized. Another suggestion the right timing is important. The importance of timing and context when delivering feedback, as providing it in the right moment can maximize its impact. Additionally, encouraging feedback from team members toward leadership can further reinforce trust and openness within the team.

La retroalimentación es esencial para poder mejorar y crecer, sin ella no se puede. Ahora, diferentes culturas tienen diferentes formas aceptables de dar retroalimentación. La forma de hacerlo puede producir el efecto contrario al deseado y eliminar las posibilidades de colaboración. A mi me ha pasado de ser tan sutil en dicha situación que la persona no se hace cargo de que necesita mejorar. Y me ha pasado con otras personas que ser tan directo cae muy grosero Por lo tanto es clave entender cual manera es la más apropiada de recibir esa información para la persona que debe recibir esa retroalimentación. Recomiendo leer: El mapa cultural de Erin Mayer.

Delivering feedback is an essential part of leadership, but it requires emotional intelligence to ensure it is constructive. In IT strategy teams, where innovation and problem-solving are key, feedback must be framed in a way that encourages growth rather than defensiveness. By using empathy and active listening, leaders can provide feedback that is clear, actionable, and supportive, creating a culture of continuous improvement. Constructive feedback helps individuals and teams evolve, improves communication, and fosters a growth mindset, which is critical in the ever-changing tech landscape.

Dê feedback de maneira construtiva e empática. Reconheça o bom desempenho e oriente em áreas de melhoria, incentivando o crescimento contínuo.

Those who have endurance often become subject matter experts with broader institutional knowledge. These types of people should be acknowledged for their endurance ad well as their valuable insights. Unfortunately SMEs are viewed too often as just information wells rather than hard faught examples to learn from their endurance

In the rapidly evolving IT industry, resilience is vital for both leaders and their teams. Emotional intelligence plays a key role in fostering resilience by helping leaders guide their teams through uncertainty, setbacks, and change. A resilient team is one that can adapt, recover, and continue to deliver under pressure. As a leader, cultivating resilience involves providing emotional support, encouraging flexibility, and modeling a positive attitude in the face of challenges. With a resilient mindset, IT teams are better equipped to handle disruptions and continue innovating in an unpredictable environment.

Promova a resiliência na equipe. Encoraje a adaptação a mudanças e a superação de adversidades, criando um ambiente de apoio e desenvolvimento.