What are the best strategies to develop emotional intelligence as a Marketing leader?

Stop hearing and start listening. Do not hear someone simply to give them an answer. In too many incidences we are preparing to respond to what is being said instead of being in the moment and listening. This is a daily conscious practice. Talk to peer, consumers and seniors and even friends and practice listening, it will open up a space for emotional intelligence in you through cultivating empathy.

As a marketer, your job is quite literally to understand other people's perspectives so that you can effectively communicate with them. My experience has taught me to develop emotional intelligence, as a marketer, its best practice to get inputs directly from your target audience by inviting them to the table in the first place - Having their voices heard and built-in to the message you want to convey. The 3 E's are useful here: Engage - engaging the people who are most affected by your decisions and bringing them into the discussion and decision-making process (builds cooperation) Explain - giving explanation for what those decisions will be and why(builds trust) Expectation - Set expectation for clarity and accountability(builds buy-in)

What are the best strategies to develop emotional intelligence as a Marketing leader? Practice self-awareness: The first step in developing emotional intelligence is to become self-aware. This means being able to recognize and understand your own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors Actively listen: As a marketing leader, you need to be able to listen to your team and understand their perspectives. Manage your emotions: It's important to be able to manage your own emotions in the workplace. This means being able to stay calm in stressful situations, handling criticism gracefully, and not letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Develop empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Regularly take time to reflect on your emotions, particularly after significant interactions or decisions. Understand what triggers your emotions and how they affect your behaviour. This self-awareness is the cornerstone of EI.

This is really where it starts. Understand yourself, your biases, and your behaviors. And then make a plan to learn based on the foundation you already have. There’s plenty of ways to do that, including through books, courses, and even finding a good mentor.

This is relates to having a high PQ (Positive Intelligence Quotient), whereas altering your default approach when engaging with stakeholders unlocks new learning opportunities. There is never a one size fits all, and learning from others via personalised interactions cannot only benefit yourself as a leader but it’s proven to ultimately also increase levels of happiness in the workplace.

Make one change at a time and build upon that as you master each level of improvement. It's a journey and there is no "finish line". Trying to force too much at once adds stress and that is the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish.

In my opinion EI is just as important, if not more so than IQ, especially in Marketing where there are so many variables that can send you into an emotional tailspin. Practicing positive emotional responses daily (such as celebrating and being grateful for small wins, even when thing go wrong) will help set your brain's the emotional pathways.

Strategies to develop EI: 1. educate yourself on EI through coursework, training programs, reading. 2. Seek a coach or mentor who can guide, but more importantly, provide feedback on your progress. 3. As others have said, start with self awareness by becoming the "observer of yourself." Ask what and why questions to understand who you are and why you are the way you are: a) what was I just feeling? Why? b) what was I just thinking? Why? c) why did I say/do what I just said/did?

Seeking feedback has been a game-changer in honing emotional intelligence. Once, I requested candid input from team members after a project. Their insights shed light on how my communication style influenced team dynamics positively. Implementing some suggestions saw a surge in team morale, enhancing overall productivity by 20%. Moreover, leveraging customer feedback via surveys unearthed areas where emotional resonance was pivotal. Their input steered a campaign pivot, aligning our messaging with customer sentiments. This move not only amplified engagement but also boosted brand loyalty by 25%.

Marketing is all about testing so do try and error and don't be afraid of it nothing is right or wrong. People buy emotionally and not rationally. so understanding your customers' emotions is key to marketing success.

My top Strength (Gallup StrengthsFinder) is Learner, so I'm a bit biased here, but as far as I'm concerned, learning is the key to staying relevant. The moment we stop learning is the moment we become irrelevant and move toward obsolescence. When we look at the pace of technology and its capability, it's unfathomable to imagine we'd be applying the same principles in Marketing (or any field) as we did in 1980, 2000, or even 2019 at this point. The world keeps changing, and we must learn to keep up. It's not just about keeping up with the latest trends, but about knowing how to communicate with our primary audience. We stop learning, we stop knowing how to communicate.

Being aware of the ultimate stakeholders in the value chain. Whether it's B2B, B2C or any other type of business, it all comes down to people. All the marketing and selling is ultimately directed at people. It is important for marketers to realise and be aware of the fact that the final benefactor of your products or services is a human. Taking into account the needs and wants of this benefactor should be the plinth on which your product/services are ideated and built. Being aware of these needs and having it as the fundamental constantly reinforces the creator's intent towards developing emotional intelligence.

I think one of the most useful strategies for developing EI in marketing is embracing the customer centric approach as a way of thinking for any marketer,at that point you will design your brand strategy, plans and communication messages in a way that consider customer before product ,it means you consider their needs,feelings and values and this is literally what EI is all about. moreover,once your customers catch this meaning they will have much more credibility and intimacy with you and your brand and so EI will be your gate for better business outcomes.

First, try "Emotion Charades" with your team. It's like acting out feelings – guess the emotion! Fun, right? Then, do "Feelings Fridays" for chats about work and life stuff. Think group talks, not fancy therapy. Use emojis in your messages for a cool emotional touch. And hey, make a "Mood Meter" in the office. Move magnets to show feelings in real-time. It's like a mood check for your team. Who knew marketing could be all about feelings and fun? Easy peasy, right?

The core of emotional intelligence is your self-awareness. By being aware of your daily emotions and interactions with your team, is the best strategy you can use to calibrate your behaviour and develop a level of emotional intelligence your team can connect with.

Sure to develop emotional intelligence as a Marketing leader 1. Reflect on your emotions and behaviors regularly 2. Practice understanding others perspectives and feelings 3. Focus on improving communication and relationship skills 4. Learn to manage stress and reactions in high pressure situations 5. Stay motivated and align goals with shared values.

Perhaps a non-traditional strategy is to engage in 'Artistic Expression Workshops', such as painting, creative writing, or drama. These workshops encourage leaders to explore and express emotions in an artistic context, fostering greater self-awareness and empathy. This approach not only enhances one’s ability to understand and manage personal emotions but also improves the capacity to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. By integrating artistic expression into emotional intelligence development, marketing leaders can cultivate a more nuanced, empathetic leadership style, essential for building strong, cohesive teams and resonant marketing strategies.