Browse Comments — Clean (de-noised)

Thanks for sharing this post!

Love this Kristof Schoenaerts! Thanks for bringing actual expertise and data to a comments section that is so far gone it's laughable.

Justin Wright, I like the way you bring EQ down into the small moments where leadership actually gets tested. The “ask one more question” point is especially important. A lot of leaders think they are solving the issue in front of them, but they are often solving the first version of the issue someone felt safe enough to say out loud. That extra question creates room for the real concern to surface. The pattern piece matters too. When the same tension keeps appearing, it is usually not a personality problem. It is often a signal that something in the system is unclear: expectations, ownership, decision rights, feedback norms, or trust. That is where EQ becomes more than interpersonal skill. It becomes operating intelligence. The leader who can pause, stay curious, and notice repeated friction before it hardens into resentment is not just being emotionally mature. They are protecting the team’s ability to communicate early enough for problems to stay manageable.

Kristof Schoenaerts thanks for bringing attention to facts, research and data, and referencing the sources. It inspires further discovery in those who are interested in the topic.

there’s no effective leadership without emotional intelligence. it’s an emotional game

What stands out here is that emotional intelligence isn't really about managing other people. It's about managing yourself well enough to bring out the best in others. The leaders who master that tend to earn trust long before they earn authority. Thank you for sharing, Justin!

I definitely relate to #2: “Give Trust to Earn Trust.” I've found that most people perform better when you start by trusting them rather than making them prove themselves first...

Emotional intelligence is not weakness — it’s disciplined awareness and intentional leadership combined.

EQ is respect for self, others, and those you impact. It’s asking bold questions when everyone else is silent. Reading the room, understanding what feels different and asking something other than “are you okay?” It’s inclusion and acceptance of others without a qualifier. Great post.

Alot might have high iqs in book smarts but absolutely lack common sense I've been tring to figure out this for years I'm sure there's a scientific explanation for this.

It's interesting how many of these points ultimately come back to relationships. Whether it's entrepreneurship, leadership or simply working within a team, success is rarely a solo journey. Technical skills may open doors, but empathy, trust and self-awareness often determine how far that journey goes.

Justin, I will suggest the absence of self awareness.

Emotional intelligence is often the differentiator between managers who direct work and leaders who inspire performance. As organizations become more collaborative and change-driven, skills such as self-awareness, empathy, trust-building, and thoughtful communication become critical drivers of engagement, innovation, and long-term success. Technical expertise may open doors, but emotional intelligence often determines how far leaders and teams can go. Which aspect of EQ do you believe has the greatest impact on team performance? #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #TeamPerformance #OrganizationalCulture #LeadershipDevelopment