Group Emotions and Leadership

An ‘Emotional Intelligence Quotient’ rates how aware we are of ourselves, how we manage ourselves, and how we sort out our social relationships.  A leader with a high Emotional Intelligence Quotient is more powerful than one who has little social acumen.

When we act as a group we often let go of our own notions of how to depend on our own social intelligence.  The pre-frontal cortex, the primal part of our brains are more likely to take over when we are in a crowd or group.  When we act as a group emotions like fear, anxiety, happiness, or sadness are acted upon. The most noticed emotional cues set the tone from the group.  Therefore, leaders have a profound effect on any given group.

Emotions effect thinking skills by aligning focus of the group.  A positive emotional climate sets up a beneficial social dynamic.  If a leader can put forth positive emotional cues, they can make even more positive social change.

Ask yourself how you feel and how these feelings came to be. Use this information to move in a positive direction. If you are in touch with your feelings and have a chance to be in a leadership position, ask how others feel and how these feelings came to be.  Use this information to move the group in a positive direction.  Move forward with the goal of doing what needs to be done to feel the way you want to feel. Move forward with the goal in mind of what needs to be done to have the group feeling the way that would be positive for the group.