Why Emotional Intelligence Is a Key Trait for a Chief of Staff

Beyond technical skills and knowledge, emotional intelligence is the key to successful leadership as chief of staff.

Key takeaways:

• Studies show that emotional intelligence is the most important skill for leadership roles like chiefs of staff
• Emotional intelligence involves understanding one’s emotions and those of others, and the connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions
• The core emotional intelligence competencies a chief of staff should have are self-awareness, self-management, social management, and relationship management
• Emotionally intelligent chiefs of staff can inspire collaboration, make unbiased decisions, and are generally more persuasive

According to Harvard Business Review, emotional intelligence is more important in a leadership role than intellect or technical skills. Leaders who master emotional intelligence often outperform their peers. They tend to be more successful thanks to their abilities to read people and keep their emotions in check in the decision-making process. A chief of staff interacts with different personalities and deals with a variety of issues across multiple departments. It’s essential to master emotional intelligence to bridge the gap. This article explores the key role of emotional intelligence for a chief of staff and how it can help you become a better leader. Let’s dive in!

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand your emotions and choose how you respond to triggers. It also encompasses your ability to recognize other people’s emotions and influence their actions. The term was coined by psychology researchers Peter Salovey and John Mayer in the 90s, but it wasn’t until Daniel Goleman released the New York Times Bestseller “Emotional Intelligence” that it became popular. Although its application in business is relatively new, emotional intelligence has become a must-have skill for essential leadership positions like those held by chiefs of staff.  A chief of staff must have four core emotional intelligence competencies. They include:

1. Self-awareness

Self-awareness refers to a person’s ability to identify their feelings and understand what causes them. Self-aware chiefs of staff are usually in tune with their emotions and don’t allow their feelings to cloud their judgment. They understand their strengths and weaknesses and how they impact team performance.

2. Self-management

Self-management refers to one’s ability to control their feelings and impulses and think rationally before acting. Chiefs of staff who have cultivated self-management can make difficult decisions under pressure and maintain a calm, positive outlook during adversities.

3. Social awareness 

Social awareness is your ability to recognize the feelings and attitudes of the people around you. Developing this skill requires empathy and constant effort to understand your colleagues’ points of view through verbal and non-verbal communication. 

4. Relationship management

Relationship management refers to the ability to develop and sustain meaningful relationships with others. Chiefs of staff with good relationship management skills can mentor, coach, and influence others while effectively managing conflicts when they arise. Now that we’ve broken down the key elements of emotional intelligence, here’s a closer look at how they impact the effectiveness of a chief of staff.

Emotional intelligence helps inspire collaboration

A chief of staff often finds themself in a position where they need to collaborate with other leaders within the organization. Other times, they’ll be responsible for helping others work together in harmony. These situations aren’t always smooth sailing. For example, some of your team members may be reluctant to acknowledge their authority and not immediately perform the duties you assign them.  In such scenarios, having high emotional intelligence can help a chief of staff find a positive solution. By exercising empathy and looking at issues from other people’s viewpoints, they’ll become more adept at working with others despite differences. This will earn them the respect and admiration of your colleagues, making them more receptive to what they have to say or need them to do. Moreover, they’ll be inclined to emulate their demeanor, ultimately fostering a spirit of teamwork throughout the company.

Emotional intelligence helps make unbiased decisions

When fulfilling a role as chief of staff, one will likely encounter a few setbacks that make them feel angry, frustrated, and disappointed – and it’s perfectly normal to have these emotions. Sometimes, these setbacks may be accompanied by negative criticism from your organization’s top-level management. However, knee-jerk reactions aren’t the best way to respond to failed programs. High emotional intelligence can help transcend negative emotions, putting one in the right frame of mind to rationally analyze what caused a setback. As a result, setbacks become a source of insight for making better decisions in the future. Chiefs of staff also find themselves in situations where they have to make decisions under intense pressure. At times like these, it’s easy to let emotions rule judgment. High emotional intelligence allows them to regulate their emotions, stay collected, and make rational, data-driven decisions that lead to the best outcome for your organization.

Emotional Intelligence makes one more persuasive

Pitching new ideas takes persuasion – a skill that requires high emotional intelligence. Beyond having the data to support a claim, one must articulate its benefit in a way that’s receptive to stakeholders. This means that one needs to anticipate their questions and concerns even before they raise them. Emotionally intelligent chiefs of staff pay attention to everything that’s going on in an organization and understand the desires and motivations of all stakeholders. They can assess the viability of their ideas from different vantage points and develop persuasive solutions. 

Final thoughts

Learning to recognize and regulate emotions will help anyone fare better in a work environment. It will help you remain calm in moments of uncertainty and help you look at issues from an unbiased perspective. Ultimately, developing emotional intelligence makes one a better team player and a more well-rounded chief of staff. Are you struggling with stagnant growth and frustrated, looking for support to grow your business? Chiefly Consultants provides fractional chiefs of staff to founders who want to achieve higher levels of productivity with organizational efficiency. We release founders from “business dependency,” allowing them to focus on the greater vision for their business and lifestyle with highly skilled and emotionally intelligent chiefs of staff. Contact us today for support.