Why Emotional Intelligence is Important in Leadership
Anne Bachrach (USA)
Technical skills can be learned. Business instincts can be sharpened. But emotional intelligence — the quiet, foundational capacity that determines how a leader actually shows up for their team — must be cultivated. Accountability coach Anne Bachrach explains why it’s the trait that separates good leaders from truly great ones.
Ask most people what makes a great business leader and you’ll hear about vision, strategy, financial acumen, and decisiveness. Emotional intelligence rarely tops the list. And yet, according to Anne Bachrach, that’s precisely the problem. Leaders with high emotional intelligence are measurably further ahead of the curve than those with sharp business instincts alone. They build teams they can retain. They know how to motivate people through difficulty. They lead not just with their heads, but with genuine understanding of the humans around them.
So why is it so underrated? Partly because it’s harder to quantify. Partly because we’ve spent decades rewarding performance metrics over people skills. But the cost of that blind spot, in turnover, in disengagement, in cultures built on fear rather than trust, is one that shows up very clearly on the balance sheet, even if it doesn’t appear in any single line item.
“Leaders who have high emotional intelligence are much farther ahead of the curve than those who have a keen instinct for business alone.”— Anne Bachrach
Emotional intelligence was first named by researchers Salovey and Mayer in 1990, and later brought to a wider audience by psychologist Daniel Goleman. At its core, it is the ability to understand your own emotions and those of others — and to use that understanding to motivate, connect, and lead. Goleman identified five components, and Bachrach walks through each one with the practical clarity of a coach who has seen them play out in real leadership situations.
What this looks like in practice
Bachrach doesn’t leave the framework at theory — she brings it down to the daily, practical reality of leading a team. A self-aware leader knows where their blind spots are and delegates accordingly. An unorganised creative thinker who recognises that about themselves can bring in an admin assistant rather than let it quietly undermine the team. Self-awareness can be as simple as keeping a journal, noting where you have room to grow, and being honest with yourself about what you see.
A self-regulating leader pauses before reacting. When a team member makes a mistake, the instinct might be to respond immediately. The emotionally intelligent response is to hold back, gather the facts, and approach the conversation from a place of calm rather than reaction. Deep breathing, running your thoughts before speaking them aloud, taking a beat — these are not soft indulgences. They are the practical tools of effective leadership.
An empathetic leader, faced with an underperforming team member, does not jump to conclusions. They ask questions. They find out what’s actually going on. There may be something personal at play. There may be a support gap that the leader themselves created. Taking accountability for the ways in which you may not have set your employee up for success — and then doing something about it — is what turns a manager into someone a team will genuinely follow.
And a leader with strong social skills communicates context, not just instruction. Rather than simply calling a team member in without explanation, they frame the meeting in advance. They share wins and losses together with the team. Transparency — about the good and the bad — is not a vulnerability. It is the foundation of a culture built on trust.
“Prioritise emotional intelligence as you lead your company. Practise self-awareness, transparency with your team, and above all, empathy. Taking the time to understand your own emotions as well as your employees’ emotions will help you to be a more effective, more compassionate, and a more successful leader.”
Source: iCN Issue 53 (Wellness & Holistic Coaching: Well-Being & Balance); page 13
About Anne Bachrach
Anne M. Bachrach is known as The Accountability Coach™. She has over 27 years of experience training and coaching. Business owners and entrepreneurs who utilise Anne’s proven systems and processes work less, make more money, and enjoy having their ideal business and ideal life. Anne is the author of many books, including, Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule!, and Live Life with No Regrets; How the Choices We Make Impact Our Lives, No Excuses!, and The Guide To Stopping Procrastination, The Power of Visualisation, and The WorkLife Balance Emergency Kit, and more. Go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/Landing/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organised, and Achieving Your Goals Now.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Get the proven strategies and resources you need for massive success. Subscribe to Anne’s blog now by going to https://accountabilitycoach.com/blog and start transforming your business today!
