In today’s fast-paced, competitive landscape, organisations require more than just technical performance from their leaders. They need leaders who can foster engagement, build connection and enhance employee wellbeing. When done well, these leaders create high performing, inclusive and thriving organisations,  attracting and retaining top talent. A crucial quality that sets such leaders apart is emotional intelligence (EQ). EQ is the ability to recognise, understand, manage and influence emotions, both in oneself and in others.

As HR Directors, unlocking and harnessing your emotional intelligence not only enhances your ability to lead with empathy and navigate the complexities of managing but it also sets the tone for your entire organisation.

Take, for example, a situation where an employee is struggling to perform, due to personal challenges. A high EQ leader wouldn’t just focus on the tangible performance metrics, but would instead seek to understand the employee’s emotional state by actively listening and asking what support would be helpful. This approach not only helps retain talent but also reinforces a culture of care and understanding.

The challenge of cultivating Emotional Intelligence:

While the value of EQ is widely recognised, cultivating it can be challenging, especially in high pressure environments. Heavy workloads, tight deadlines and constant demands can make emotional regulation difficult. When stress takes over, leaders may find it hard to regulate their emotions, empathise with others or maintain emotional balance. This can lead to reactive decision-making rather than thoughtful, intentional and emotionally aware leadership.

Some leaders struggle with regulating their own emotions leading to outbursts, frustration or mood swings. In such cases, it becomes difficult to maintain the composure needed for complex interpersonal situations. Emotional volatility is not only damaging to relationships, but also erodes trust, making others hesitant to approach you or communicate openly. This is where emotional intelligence is crucial, as it allows leaders to respond with empathy and calm in stressful situations.

Introducing the 5Qs Formula: A daily tool to build emotional intelligence:

Developing and sustaining emotional intelligence becomes far easier when you take of your own emotional needs first. This is where the 5Qs Formula comes in. Designed to  prime your mindset at the start of the day, the 5Qs Formula, is a science-backed system that helps leaders maintain emotional balance, regardless of  how stressful or demanding their roles may be. With years of research behind it, this tool equips leaders with the means to energise, focus and elevate leadership effectiveness.

The 5Qs Formula is a simple but powerful routine that takes just 5 minutes every morning. It involves asking yourself five key questions which can be remembered by the acronym PRIME:

P – Pin point your emotions and feelings

R – Recognise gratitude

I – Identify what is working well and could be working better for you

M – Make a list of three high impact tasks

E – Envision how you want to show up for your day

By incorporating the 5Qs Formula into your morning routine, when your brain is most adaptable and open to being primed, you can make significant shifts in how you lead, what you accomplish and how you experience your day.

Practical Steps to Enhance Emotional Intelligence:

Here are some practical steps to begin embedding emotional intelligence and the 5Qs Formula into your daily routine:

• Invest 5minutes in yourself: Begin each morning with the 5Qs Formula, taking a moment to check in with yourself emotionally. This simply practice sets the emotional tone for the day and helps you approach challenges with a clearer, more centered mindset.

• Practice active listening. In every interaction, prioritise listening over talking. Active listening builds empathy and shows employees that you genuinely are about their perspectives. This creates space for meaningful connections, trust and deeper understanding.

• Take emotional pauses. Before reacting to stressful situations, take a moment to breathe and reflect on how your response will impact others. Reconnect with your values and strengths to ensure your reaction aligns with the kind of leader you want to be.

Unlocking EQ for joyful and inclusive workplaces:

Unlocking and harnessing emotional intelligence is the cornerstone of creative productive, joyful and inclusive workplaces. By incorporating the 5Qs Formula into your daily routine, you can foster the emotional resilience needed to lead with purpose, empathy and impact. This not only transforms your leadership but also helps to create cultures where people thrive and enjoy working in. When employees feel supported, understood, valued and that they matter, it leads to higher levels of wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Simi Rayat is the author of Productivity Joy: Be Effective and Feel Energised in just 5 minutes a day.