THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN MODERN LEADERSHIP

РОЛЬ ЭМОЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ИНТЕЛЛЕКТА В СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЛИДЕРСТВЕ

Гайдар Екатерина Петровна

студент, Институт общественных наук, Российская академия народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте Российской Федерации,

РФ, г. Москва

Котелевская Элина Игоревна

научный руководитель, канд. филол. наук, старший преподаватель кафедры иностранных языков №2, Российская академия народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте Российской Федерации,

РФ, г. Москва

ABSTRACT

The article examines the role of emotional intelligence in modern leadership as one of the key factors of successful personnel management. The author analyzes the main components of emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and communication skills, and shows their significance in managerial decision-making. Special attention is paid to the impact of emotional intelligence on building trust within a team, preventing and resolving conflicts, increasing employee engagement, and creating a favorable psychological climate. The article also highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in the digital environment, where leaders face new challenges in communication and remote team management. It is concluded that emotional intelligence is not an additional trait, but an essential quality of a modern leader.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В статье рассматривается роль эмоционального интеллекта в современном лидерстве как одного из ключевых факторов успешного управления персоналом. Автор анализирует основные компоненты эмоционального интеллекта, включая самосознание, саморегуляцию, эмпатию, мотивацию и коммуникативные навыки, а также показывает их значение в процессе принятия управленческих решений. Особое внимание уделяется влиянию эмоционального интеллекта на формирование доверия в коллективе, профилактику и разрешение конфликтов, повышение вовлеченности сотрудников и создание благоприятного психологического климата. Отдельно подчеркивается значение эмоционального интеллекта в цифровой среде, где лидеры сталкиваются с новыми вызовами коммуникации и управления удаленными командами. Делается вывод о том, что эмоциональный интеллект является не дополнительным, а необходимым качеством современного руководителя.

Keywords: emotional intelligence, leadership, personnel management, empathy, communication, team, digital environment.

Ключевые слова: эмоциональный интеллект, лидерство, управление персоналом, эмпатия, коммуникация, команда, цифровая среда.

Modern leadership is no longer defined only by authority, formal status, or professional competence. In today’s organizations, leaders are expected to inspire trust, manage complex interpersonal relations, and respond effectively to uncertainty. [1] As workplaces become more dynamic and diverse, emotional intelligence has emerged as one of the most important qualities of successful leadership. It enables leaders to understand both their own emotions and the emotional states of others, which improves decision-making, communication, and organizational climate. [2]

The topic of emotional intelligence is especially relevant in the context of globalization, digital transformation, and increasing psychological pressure in professional settings. [3] Leaders who can recognize emotions and respond appropriately are better prepared to guide teams through change, conflict, and stress. For this reason, emotional intelligence is increasingly viewed not as a soft skill, but as a strategic leadership asset. [4]

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, understand, regulate, and use emotions effectively in oneself and in others. The concept became widely known through psychological and management studies and is commonly associated with five core components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. These components work together to shape how a person responds to challenges, interacts with others, and builds relationships [1]

Self-awareness allows a leader to recognize personal strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers. Self-regulation helps prevent impulsive reactions and supports calm, thoughtful behavior under pressure. [2] Motivation gives leaders the internal drive to pursue goals persistently, while empathy makes it possible to understand the needs and feelings of team members. Social skills, in turn, support communication, persuasion, and collaboration.

Unlike technical knowledge, emotional intelligence is not limited to one profession or one type of task. It is a transferable competence that improves performance across many leadership contexts. [5] This is why organizations increasingly value it when selecting and developing managers.

Emotional intelligence is essential for leadership because it affects how leaders influence others and how they respond to organizational challenges. [1] A leader with high emotional intelligence usually communicates more clearly, listens more attentively, and creates a more respectful working environment. Such leadership improves trust, which is one of the foundations of effective cooperation. [4]

One of the most visible benefits of emotional intelligence is conflict management. Conflicts in organizations often arise not only from practical disagreements, but also from misunderstandings, frustration, and unspoken tension.

Emotionally intelligent leaders are better able to identify the emotional roots of conflict and resolve disputes before they escalate. They can remain composed, consider different viewpoints, and choose responses that preserve relationships while addressing the problem. [4]

Emotional intelligence also strengthens decision-making. Leaders who understand emotional influences are less likely to make purely reactive decisions and more likely to balance logic with human factors. [2] This is important because leadership decisions affect morale, productivity, and loyalty. In many cases, employees are more willing to accept difficult decisions when they feel understood and respected by the leader.

Another important aspect is leadership credibility. Employees tend to trust leaders who show empathy, fairness, and emotional stability. Such trust improves engagement and commitment, which ultimately supports organizational success. [1] Thus, emotional intelligence contributes not only to interpersonal harmony but also to strategic effectiveness.

Team management requires more than task distribution and performance control. It involves coordination, motivation, and the ability to maintain a healthy psychological atmosphere. Emotional intelligence helps leaders understand team dynamics and adapt their management style to different personalities and situations. [4]

A leader with strong emotional intelligence can recognize when a team is experiencing stress, exhaustion, or low morale. Instead of ignoring these signals, the leader can respond with support, clarification, or encouragement. This improves the team’s resilience and reduces the risk of disengagement. [5] It also creates a culture in which employees feel safe expressing concerns and ideas.

Empathy plays a particularly important role in team management. When team members feel that their views are heard and their emotions are respected, they are more likely to cooperate openly. Emotional intelligence also helps leaders delegate effectively because they can match tasks with employee strengths and provide feedback in a constructive manner. This improves both performance and professional development. [1]

In addition, emotionally intelligent leaders often serve as role models. Their behavior influences the emotional tone of the team. If the leader remains calm, respectful, and solution-oriented, the team is more likely to adopt the same patterns. In this way, emotional intelligence shapes not only individual relationships but also collective culture.

The digital era has changed the way leaders communicate and manage people. Remote work, virtual meetings, and digital platforms have made communication faster, but not always more personal. In such conditions, emotional intelligence becomes even more important, because many emotional cues are harder to notice online. [3]

Digital communication often reduces access to body language, tone, and immediate feedback. This can increase the risk of misunderstandings and emotional distance. Leaders who rely only on formal instructions may struggle to maintain engagement in virtual teams.

Emotionally intelligent leaders, however, can use careful wording, active listening, and regular check-ins to preserve connection and clarity. [3]

The digital era also increases workload, information overload, and pressure to respond quickly. [3] These conditions require leaders to manage their own stress and remain emotionally balanced. A leader who can regulate emotions in a fast-paced digital environment is better able to maintain team stability and trust.

At the same time, digital tools can support emotional intelligence when used thoughtfully. Video meetings, chat platforms, and feedback systems can help leaders stay connected with employees across distances. However, technology alone cannot replace human understanding. The most effective digital leaders combine technological competence with emotional sensitivity.

Emotional intelligence is a central element of modern leadership. It supports self-awareness, empathy, communication, conflict resolution, and effective decision-making. In team management, it helps create trust, improve motivation, and maintain a positive organizational climate. [1] In the digital era, it becomes even more valuable because leaders must manage people in environments where communication is often less personal and more fragmented.

The evidence shows that leadership success depends not only on professional expertise, but also on the ability to understand and guide emotions. Therefore, emotional intelligence should be considered core leadership competence and developed systematically in education, training, and managerial practice. Modern organizations that invest in emotionally intelligent leadership are more likely to achieve stability, adaptability, and long-term success.

References:

1. Гоулман Д. Эмоциональное лидерство: Искусство управления людьми на основе эмоционального интеллекта / Д. Гоулман, Р. Бояцис, Э. Макки. – М. : Альпина Паблишер, 2022. – 300 с.
2. Карузо, Д. Эмоциональный интеллект руководителя: как развивать и применять / Д. Карузо, П. Сэловей; перевод Раевская Д., Чекчурина О. – Санкт-Петербург: Питер, 2017. – 320 с.
3. Ергулович, И. Н. Методы развития эмоционального интеллекта в современной академической среде / И. Н. Ергулович. — Текст : электронный // CyberLeninka: [сайт]. — URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/metody-razvitiya-emotsionalnogo-intellekta-v-sovremennoy-akademicheskoy-srede (дата обращения: 13.04.2026).
4. Кроль, Л. Эмоциональный интеллект лидера / Л. Кроль. – Москва: Альпина Паблишер, 2019. – 314 с.
5. РОЛЬ ЭМОЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ИНТЕЛЛЕКТА В ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОМ БЛАГОПОЛУЧИИ ЧЕЛОВЕКА / Е. А. Сергиенко. — Текст: электронный // CyberLeninka : [сайт]. — URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/metody-razvitiya-emotsionalnogo-intellekta-v-sovremennoy-akademicheskoy-srede (дата обращения: 13.04.2026).