The best leaders have feelings, too

World-class business leaders are stoic and never show a hint of emotion. They’re cold, calculating and detached, allowing them to make complex decisions in machine-like fashion.

Do you agree with that first paragraph? For many of us, this is the tried-and-true vision of a leader. You never want to “let them see you sweat,” the saying goes. However, this line of thinking misses out on reality — the world’s best leaders are in tune with their emotions and know how to effectively manage them.

Emotional intelligence or emotional agility, as the author discusses in the article below, is “all about striking a balance and learning to manage your feelings constructively.” When emotions rise up, it’s best to identify and appraise (or reappraise) them, rather than ignore them. Then, the best leaders use these feelings to inform — but not control — their decisions.

This type of emotional agility “helps people to alleviate stress, reduce errors, become more innovative and improve job performance.” However, the benefits go beyond just the individual level. A team’s morale and motivation are closely linked to a leader’s ability to manage their emotions — meaning emotional agility can be the difference between successful and dysfunctional teams.

The world of mobility is full of emotion, with relocating employees and their families facing a range of highs and lows every day, which can often rub off on everyone working on a move. The best leaders in this environment are the ones who effectively manage their emotions and can help others do the same.