**Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Secret to Great Leadership**

What if the key to success isn’t IQ, talent, or even experience—but *emotional intelligence*? In this episode, we dive into the game-changing science behind what makes great leaders truly exceptional.

From self-awareness to social mastery, discover how top performers manage emotions, navigate conflict, and inspire trust. Learn why empathy isn’t just about understanding others—it’s the foundation of influence, connection, and long-term success.

And here’s the best part: unlike IQ, *emotional intelligence can be learned.* So how can you develop it and take your leadership to the next level? Tune in to find out.

“Self-awareness, it's the least visible part of emotional intelligence, but we find in our research that people low in self-awareness are unable to develop strengths very well in other parts of emotional intelligence.”

When Daniel Goleman released his best-selling book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ,” the concept resonated with millions of readers, many experiencing  an “aha” moment, recognizing this trait in people that they admired. Through his research, Goleman found that people who emerge as outstanding performers or the best leaders have high emotional intelligence. A combination of self-awareness, mastery over emotions, social awareness, empathy, tuning into others, allow harmonious or effective relationships.This finding proved to be good news: Unlike IQ, which barely budges over the course of our life, emotional intelligence can change. It's learned and learnable at any point in life. In this Big Think+ lesson, Goleman outlines 4 domains of emotional intelligence and 12 particular competencies of people who are high in emotional intelligence.

About Daniel Goleman:Daniel Goleman has transformed the way the world educates children, relates to family and friends, and conducts business. A frequent speaker to businesses of all kinds and sizes, he has worked with leaders around the globe, examining the way social and emotional competencies impact the bottom line.Ranked one of the 10 most influential business thinkers by The Wall Street Journal, Goleman’s articles in the Harvard Business Review are among the most frequently requested reprints of all time. One of these pieces, “The Focused Leader,” won the 2013 HBR McKinsey Award for best article of the year. Apart from his writing on emotional intelligence, Goleman has written books on topics including self-deception, creativity, transparency, meditation, social and emotional learning, ecoliteracy, and the ecological crisis.He is also the host of First Person Plural: Emotional Intelligence and Beyond, a podcast about us, the systems we’re a part of, and how we can create an emotionally intelligent future.

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