Your team watches how you lead under stress.
That becomes the template for their behavior.

Want to improve your team’s performance?

Start by looking in the mirror.

And the consequences are huge:
• Teams with low self-awareness perform 50% worse
• Toxic behaviors go unchecked
• Conflict festers
• Engagement drops

Why does this matter?

Because self-awareness isn’t just knowing your mood.
It’s knowing how your mood affects others.

Over time, this gives you a map of your leadership mindset.

And it helps close the gap between what you think you’re like…and how you actually lead.

Self-awareness isn’t passive reflection.
It’s active pattern recognition.

Try it for 30 days. You’ll lead differently.

Here’s how to do it:
1. Every time you make a key decision, write down:
• What decision you made
• Why you made it
• What you were feeling
• What outcome you were hoping for

2. Revisit it a few weeks later.
• Did the decision work?
• Did your emotions influence it?
• What patterns are emerging?

4. Use active listening
Nod. Repeat what you heard. Ask clarifying questions.
It builds trust—even over Zoom.

You don’t need a PhD in psychology to lead with emotional intelligence.

You just need to notice, reflect, and respond with purpose.

Which one of these do you want to try this week?

3. Practice the pause
Before reacting to stress, ask:
“How do I want this interaction to affect my team?”

2. Ask one question in every 1:1
“How are you feeling lately?”
Listen. Don’t fix—just understand.

The future of leadership isn’t softer.
It’s sharper—with more empathy, more awareness, and a lot more effectiveness.

What outdated assumptions have you heard about emotional intelligence?

You’re missing the signals.

If we want high-performing teams in 2025, we need emotionally intelligent leaders who:
• notice emotional patterns
• understand what’s driving them
• and adjust how they lead in response