Here's how you can develop leadership skills for late career professionals using emotional intelligence.

A behavior I didn't learn or practice for a long time. Emotional Intelligence starts with "thinking before you speak". Reacting and communicating through emotions, typically calls for a re-do. Work with the facts and the data to communicate. Based on the situation and how emotionally close you are to it, can cause more difficulty when responding and coaching. Mastering the pause here is important. I do like the feel, felt, found method here as well so those you are working with can hear your empathy. I understand how you feel, I felt the same when xyz happened and found that by doing xyz this was the result. Offer solutions with empathy, facts, and manage your tone. That is also important. So much to discuss on this matter! Cheers!

Emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness - our ability to understand ourselves. - Why is it that I do what I do? - Why do I react to things the way that I react to things? - Why do I like some people and I don't like others? - Why in certain situations do I thrive and flourish and other situations I shrink and I don't like it. It's because you are unique, and you experience the world differently to everyone else. So the more you understand yourself, the things you embrace... or may not particularly enjoy about yourself, it's the first step to developing your leadership skills and your relationships with others. The more aware you are the better you will understand your impact on others.

The important step to follow self awareness is choosing the right action / response. Too often people accept the way they are and are less prepared to choose the response that facilitates the best outcome. Self-awareness is vital and acting intelligently on that awareness is where EQ realises benefits. G.

Confidence serves as the fundamental cornerstone for fostering sustainable and powerful teams. It empowers them to reach their full potential and tackle divergent scenarios with ease, seeking powerful solutions effortlessly."

Empathy indeed lies at the heart of effective leadership. It's about understanding others' perspectives and genuinely connecting with their emotions and experiences. To cultivate empathy as a leader, it's essential to listen actively beyond surface-level interactions. This means giving your full attention to others, acknowledging their feelings, and seeking to understand their underlying motivations. By practising empathy in your leadership approach, you create a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration within your team, ultimately driving tremendous success and fulfilment for everyone involved.

Joining L'Oréal India in 2011, I faced the challenge of training 1250 people, most fluent in the local language with limited English. My strategy: speak their language, using relevant market examples. However, merely speaking their language wasn't enough. I realized the significance of building genuine connections through empathetic listening practices. By actively engaging with team members, understanding their challenges, and addressing their concerns, I cultivated a sense of trust & camaraderie. As a result of these efforts, the teams across various channels and markets exhibited significant performance improvements. This approach not only strengthened the team dynamics but also contributed to the overall success of the organization.

Improving communication skills is vital for late career professionals. It's not just about conveying ideas but fostering a culture of understanding and collaboration. Articulating vision and expectations while embracing feedback cultivates an environment where teams thrive. Being receptive to diverse perspectives not only enhances problem-solving but also promotes inclusive leadership. Effective communication isn't just a skill; it's the cornerstone of successful leadership in today's dynamic workplace.

Leadership is not just about personal growth; it’s also about fostering growth in others. Late-career professionals can lead by example, demonstrating emotional intelligence in every interaction. Encouraging a culture where emotional intelligence is valued and practiced can transform the workplace. This involves promoting open communication, emotional literacy, and continuous learning. Leaders can leave a lasting legacy of emotionally intelligent leadership by championing these values.

Transformational leaders typically have high EQ and use it to inspire and motivate their followers by effectively communicating a compelling vision and creating a positive work environment. Leaders with high EQ are skilled at understanding and managing their own emotions, as well as recognizing and empathizing with the emotions of others. This enables them to communicate in a way that resonates with their team and fosters trust. They are able to listen actively, show empathy, and respond appropriately. They express their vision and ideas in a way that inspires and motivates. They gauge the emotions and needs of their team, adapting their communication style to meet those needs. Share your experience with a transformational leader.

Since becoming a Sales Trainer with Hindustan Unilever in 2003, I’ve learned the importance of empathy in FMCG sales. The life of a Sales Representative and Sales Executive is tough, navigating markets in extreme weather to meet quotas is highly stressful. Recognizing that people are people—whether retailers, wholesalers, or sellers—is crucial, as seasonal changes can greatly affect moods. Simple appreciation for their hard work and consistency can uplift morale and drive remarkable turnarounds, I have witnessed. Empathy and genuine appreciation can bridge the gap, fostering a supportive atmosphere that motivates and inspires. Handling people with care not only enhances their performance but also builds a resilient and dedicated team.

In my experience, using the STOP method helps with coping with pressure and remaining composed. S: Stop. Take a brief pause. T: Take a Breath: Take a deliberate and mindful breath, focusing on inhalation and exhalation. O: Observe: Acknowledge your thoughts, feelings, and the environment without judgment. P: Proceed Mindfully: Proceed with intentionality, choosing a response consciously.

Indeed, leadership often means navigating high-stress situations. Drawing from past experiences, late career professionals can develop tailored stress management strategies. Whether it's delegating tasks, mastering time management, or practicing mindfulness, effective stress management is key. By staying composed under pressure, leaders not only make better decisions but also inspire their team to do the same. It's about leading by example and fostering a resilient, solution-oriented mindset within the organization.

Before you can manage stress, you first need to be able to identify that you are in a state of stress. Many individuals aren’t self aware of their body’s reaction to stressful experiences or environments. Some may “write off” stress signals as “I get frequent headaches”, “I break out easily”, or my favorite, “I’m just not a good sleeper”. For those that do not identify stress well, start with intentional self-observation and journaling. Begin to keep a record or mental note of moments you are not at ease and identify or hypothesize the cause. If you’re not aware of stress, you’re not coping or combating it either. Research and explore stress relief activities that peak your interest and try a few to see what works best for you.

An emotionally intelligent leader is likely to be in tune with their own body and mind; they would know when to slow down and when to buck up. More importantly, their mindset, beliefs, skills and knowledge would be so well-tuned over time that they would know when to roll-back bad decisions before they cause stress; when to apologize for a mistake and when to stay firm on a well-thought decision and action. In order to reach the above stage, one would have to practice self-awareness and self-alignment over a number of years in order to work with goal-orientation, empathy, assertiveness and impulse control with a clear focus on revising and expanding their own own mindset, beliefs and self-concept on regular if not daily basis.

The absolute #1 way to influence your followers as a leader is to be a “hands on” leader. A leader who rolls up their sleeves and works alongside their team members. A leader who is actively involved in the operations, and ensures their team’s need are met. This hands-on approach not only shows a leader's commitment and dedication but also fosters a sense of trust, loyalty, and collaboration within the team. There’s no better way to show your team members you value them, than by serving them. Servant leadership is another great example of how you can support your team and show that you value them. Servant leadership, like transformational leadership, demonstrates high EQ/EI character traits.

Emotional intelligence is pivotal in developing influence and persuasion. Recognising that there are no shortcuts; instead, it's about laying a solid foundation through thoughtful steps. Rather than demanding change, it's about positively influencing others, understanding the context, and building trust over time. For instance, leveraging emotional intelligence allows you to skip small talk and dive into deeper, more personal topics with someone you've built trust with, ultimately enhancing your ability to influence effectively.

Absolutely, influencing others is at the heart of effective leadership. It's about inspiring rather than coercing, fostering trust through consistent actions and integrity. By valuing individual contributions and aligning team goals with personal motivations, leaders can enhance their influence. It's not just about achieving common goals but also empowering others to grow and thrive within the organization. Building genuine connections and leading with empathy are crucial elements in cultivating a positive and impactful leadership style.

Use your empathy to influence. Your EQ should help you understand why the comments are being made and what the concerns are, therefore, your influencing skills should help to resolve those concerns. That is what drives forward momentum and change. If you are not "listening" then you are not "helping".

Undoubtedly, influence stands as one of the most powerful tools every leader must master. From empathy to emotional intelligence, the diverse strategies leaders employ to navigate these scenarios are plentiful, enabling others to unleash their full potential. Indudablemente, la influencia se destaca como una de las herramientas más poderosas que todo líder debe dominar. Desde la empatía hasta la inteligencia emocional, las diversas estrategias que los líderes emplean para abordar estos escenarios son numerosas, permitiendo que otros desplieguen todo su potencial. @lapassion

As organisations are more deliberate about inclusivity and diversity, we need to develop our ability to lead and inspire more diverse teams. Often this requires intercultural communication competence, which can be enhanced when we seek out opportunities to interact and then reflect on different communication styles. Learning about different cultural norms and remaining curious and appreciative about differences is a positive aspect of leadership development in an increasingly interconnected world.

I left L'Oréal in August 2021, where I spent 10 Years. It was a great experience working with an organization that Cares, Trains & Nurtures you for the next horizon. The important fact I want to share is that in 10 Years I got Trained 23 times, where the Training days were not less than a day & went up to 4 days many times. Training is an inherent need. It bonds you emotionally with the organization. It not only brings the wealth of learning but unites people across. You feel a subtle sense of bonding in person with the organization, that is PEOPLE only. The connection, the respect & the zeal to continue to deliver grow up. It's a PURE-WIN-WIN! When you go back to YOUR Team as a Transformed Leader. This is the Power of Continuous Learning!

The biggest difference between EQ and IQ, is that you can improve your EQ over time. This takes self-management, and what that looks like is emotional regulation, self-awareness, stress management, adaptability, and self-reflection. Where does one begin to improve EQ? Research, read, study, and practice. Great resources are: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success by Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book A great first step is to complete an EQ assessment. There are free ones, but I recommend working with an EQ Coach that can Coach you through your results and guide you to improving your EQ.

EI is pivotal when facing modern workplace challenges like ageism, whether perceived or real, internally or externally manifested. It can be daunting. At it's core, EI is about strategically harnessing your emotions to respond rather than react impulsively. Late-career professionals can leverage EI by setting clear, future-focused goals, both situationally and long-term. Goals that emphasize building consensus, inclusivity, and leadership. By aligning their rich experience and emotional insights with these objectives, they can transform potential workplace challenges into opportunities for mentorship and leadership, effectively navigating emotional triggers and enhancing their impact in any professional setting.

The maybe most complex art of learning in an organisation is systemic thinking; do not only reflect on yourself as a subject, leader ... etc. and train your professional empathy, but include others, your team, into that learning. Means: you cannot train EQ on yourself alone. Practise listening actively, try to understand perspectives of others, explore different cultural values, principles and learnings - and try to share with others instead of discussing. This will do some productive deformation to your roles and to you as a part of different environments, systems, connections to people (which is: your organisation).

EI begins with self awareness. Elder people would love the nudge towards purpose and meaning to life. Social skills changes over generations. Including them into new activities will make them feel included and develop new skills. Deeper self realisation and awareness will help them be more emotional intelligent!

I started my career quite early at the age of 23 years. I always believed in getting educated on what to do. How to do? Who are the key players in the dynamics of the Sales Ecosystem? Who are my internal customers? And who are my external customers? The important is the importance of Team & the Boss ;) What i have mentioned here is the essence of the feelings of a new joiner in any organization. Some companies have a Sales Training Ecosystem, but many don't. What do you think which types of companies are winners - Who have a Sales Training Ecosystem or which don't? If you have to win in the Markets laden with Competition, You need to feed your Champions with complete KASH to fight it out or at least Challenge it! Winning the Outlet is KEY!

Accept the reality of leadership humility as well as vulnerability as leaders are as human as the team. Understand that no man should be bigger than the team. The leader is the guy given a larger responsibility and portfolio. Everyone wants to be respected and recognised for their contributions. Each one has the strengths and weaknesses, accept the pluses and minuses of everyone. Power comes with responsibility, use the power and authority sensible. Learn and apply altruism in your leadership practices and behaviour.

Developing leadership skills as a late-career professional can be profoundly enhanced through emotional intelligence (EI). Start by honing self-awareness; understanding your emotions improves decision-making and resilience. Cultivate empathy to connect with and motivate your team effectively. Practice active listening and open communication to build trust and foster a collaborative environment. Adaptability is crucial; embrace change and lead by example. Lastly, reflect on your experiences, leveraging your vast knowledge to mentor and guide others. By integrating EI into your leadership approach, you can inspire and drive your team to new heights.