There’s a leadership skill that no AI can replicate, no tech stack can automate, and no strategy deck can substitute:
Emotional Intelligence.
At 4Sight, we believe emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the most overlooked—but most vital—skills leaders need to build thriving, healthy culture. Because when you’re leading people, you’re not just driving outcomes—you’re shaping the emotional climate where your team either grows or burns out.
Culture is emotional. And emotional intelligence is your edge.
“'We measure intelligence by what you know. But we trust leaders based on how they make us feel.'
I’ve learned this the hard way.
As a driven leader, I often charge ahead with passion and energy. But that same drive has, at times, blinded me to how others are experiencing the pace I’m setting. I remember sharing an ambitious new plan with my team—only to be met with blank stares. Later, my assistant bravely told me what was going on: They were still recovering from the last big initiative. I wasn’t being insensitive on purpose—I was just unaware.
That’s emotional intelligence at work (or not at work, in my case)."
Today’s leadership conversations revolve around intelligence:
Artificial intelligence is redefining execution
Business intelligence powers insight
Strategic intelligence informs decision-making
But emotional intelligence is the difference-maker in how people experience your leadership.
According to Harvard Business Review, EQ accounts for nearly 90% of what sets top performers apart. McKinsey’s research shows that leaders who model empathy create teams with twice the engagement.
That’s a culture advantage you can’t afford to miss.
And yet, too many executive teams are leading without it. When EQ is absent, culture becomes fragile. When it’s present, culture becomes magnetic.
We live in a time when much of our work can be replicated by machines and artificial intelligence. But what cannot be reproduced authentically are the people skills historically referred to as “soft skills”—the ability to emotionally connect and interact effectively with others.
No matter how many job functions AI replaces, the need for leaders who can relate and respond to humans will be the differentiating behavior. And yet, while the need for emotional intelligence has grown, the development of these skills has decreased. Many emerging leaders are entering the workforce without the relational abilities that will set them apart in today’s workplace.
That’s why cultivating emotional intelligence isn’t just good for your team—it’s essential for your culture.
At 4Sight, we break it down into four practical skills, building on the framework shared in Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves:
Self-Awareness
"Your ability to accurately perceive your own emotions in the moment and understand your tendencies across situations."
You can’t lead well if you don’t first recognize what’s going on inside you. Self-awareness is your leadership mirror.
HBR reports leaders with high self-awareness are consistently rated as more effective by both supervisors and direct reports.
Try this: Before your next one-on-one, take 60 seconds to ask yourself, "What emotional state am I bringing into this meeting—and how might that shape the tone?"
Self-Management
"Your ability to use your awareness of your emotions to stay flexible and direct your behavior positively."
Pressure will always be part of leadership. Self-management helps you respond instead of react—and that changes everything for your team.
Leaders who manage emotions well can handle crisis moments with clarity and conviction, not chaos.
Try this: Set a post-meeting reflection rhythm. After a tough conversation, jot down how you felt, what you did well, and what you’d do differently next time.
Social Awareness
"Your ability to accurately pick up on emotions in other people and understand what is really going on with them."
The best leaders read the room. Empathy helps you go beyond the words being said and into what’s really being felt.
McKinsey’s 2024 research shows leaders who demonstrate empathy have teams with twice the engagement.
Try this: Next time you're presenting to a group, pause mid-way to take a quick emotional pulse. Are people leaning in or leaning back? Are heads nodding or arms crossed? Ask, “How’s this landing for you all?” and adjust in real time.
Relationship Management
"Your ability to use your awareness of your own emotions and those of others to manage interactions successfully."
Culture is built—or broken—in interactions. Relationship management means you know how to build trust and repair it when needed.
Trust isn’t built in a single moment. It’s earned over time—conversation by conversation.
Harvard Business Review says EQ accounts for nearly 90% of what sets top performers apart. LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report shows 92% of hiring professionals say soft skills are equal to or more important than hard skills.
Try this: Think about a teammate you’ve had tension with. Schedule a 15-minute check-in and ask how they’re doing—not as a performance check, but as a person. Listen without defensiveness.
The best organizational cultures focus on cultivating emotional intelligence in all team members.
EQ is a skill that can be developed—and when leaders lead with it, they move everyone forward.
Culture is emotional. It’s not just what we say, it’s how people feel about working with us. And feelings are shaped in every interaction.
If you want to lead culture well, you have to lead with awareness, empathy, and relational strength. AI can analyze data, but only people can build trust.
“Culture isn’t just about what we say — it’s how we make people feel, every single day."
- Jenni Catron
As a leader, your influence is unmatched. Your emotional awareness (or lack of it) ripples through the entire organization. The good news? EQ is a skill that can be developed.
What matters most isn’t that you’ve mastered it—but that you’re committed to growing in it.
Emotional intelligence is a leadership superpower. It creates trust. It builds connection. And most importantly, it cultivates a culture where your people can thrive.
So here’s the question worth asking: What’s it like to be on the other side of my leadership?
The answer may hold the key to the culture you’re actually creating.
Let’s lead with clarity, conviction, and emotional insight.
Download the Executive EQ Worksheet.
Leadership isn’t a title — it’s a practice. And that practice starts with you.
Where are you coasting or waiting for permission to grow? What’s one routine you can implement this week to sharpen your leadership? How can you take more ownership of your development today?
Remember: You don’t need permission to grow. Your team needs the healthiest, most grounded version of you.
If this resonates, I invite you to join the Summer Leadership Institute — a 12-week program designed to equip busy leaders like you with the foundational skills your team needs, starting with self-leadership.
Each week, you’ll get practical, actionable insights that you can implement immediately to lead with clarity, confidence, and build unstoppable momentum.
Sign up now and commit to becoming the leader your culture needs.
➡️ Join the Summer Leadership Institute Today
Keep leading well,
Jenni Catron
Jenni Catron is a best selling author, speaker, and leadership coach who consults with organizations to help them lead from their extraordinary best. She speaks at conferences and churches nationwide, seeking to help others develop their leadership gifts and lead confidently. As Founder and CEO of The 4Sight Group, she consults with individuals and teams on leadership and organizational health.
Jenni is the author of several books, including Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable, Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership.
A thriving culture is the backbone of any successful organization—it’s where mission and momentum meet. At The 4Sight Group, our LeadCulture Framework is designed to help you gain clarity, build trust, and ignite purpose within your team. You'll build a culture that aligns with your values and energizes your mission.
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