The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Why It Matters

By Karry Kleeman
3x SaaS Exited CRO | Board Member | Investor | Advisor | GTM Executive

The Leadership Skill No One Talks About Enough

When we think of great leaders, we often focus on traits like vision, decisiveness, and strategic thinking. While those are essential, there’s one skill that truly sets the best leaders apart: emotional intelligence (EQ).

In today’s fast-paced business world, leadership isn’t just about driving results—it’s about leading people. And people don’t just respond to strategy; they respond to connection, trust, and authenticity. That’s where emotional intelligence comes in.

A leader with high emotional intelligence doesn’t just make smart business decisions—they create an environment where teams feel valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best work. Let’s break down why emotional intelligence is a game-changer in leadership and how you can develop it.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you. It consists of five key components:

1. Self-awareness – Understanding your emotions and how they impact your thoughts and actions.
2. Self-regulation – Controlling impulses, staying composed under pressure, and adapting to change.
3. Motivation – Staying driven by purpose rather than external rewards.
4. Empathy – Understanding and considering the emotions of others.
5. Social skills – Building strong relationships, communicating effectively, and inspiring teams.

Leaders with high EQ don’t just react—they respond thoughtfully. They don’t just direct—they inspire. And that’s what separates good leaders from great ones.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Leadership

1. Stronger Team Relationships

People want to work for leaders they trust and respect. Leaders who demonstrate empathy, active listening, and genuine concern for their team’s well-being foster a culture of trust. This leads to stronger collaboration, higher engagement, and better overall performance.

2. Better Decision-Making

High EQ leaders don’t let emotions cloud their judgment. Instead of making impulsive choices, they assess situations with clarity and respond with thoughtful, strategic decisions. They can balance logic with intuition, ensuring that both people and business objectives are considered.

3. Higher Employee Engagement and Retention

People don’t leave companies; they leave bad bosses. Leaders who lack emotional intelligence create toxic environments where employees feel undervalued and disengaged. On the flip side, emotionally intelligent leaders build cultures of belonging, reducing turnover and increasing loyalty.

4. The Ability to Manage Conflict Effectively

Every workplace experiences conflict—whether it’s between colleagues, departments, or external stakeholders. A leader with strong emotional intelligence can navigate these situations diplomatically, de-escalating tensions and finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.

5. Increased Resilience in High-Stress Situations

Leadership comes with pressure. Whether it’s handling a crisis, meeting aggressive targets, or navigating company changes, emotionally intelligent leaders don’t let stress dictate their behavior. They remain composed, inspire confidence, and help their teams navigate uncertainty with clarity.

How to Develop Emotional Intelligence as a Leader

1. Practice Self-Awareness

Start by regularly checking in with yourself. How do you react to stress? How do your emotions affect your decision-making? Keeping a journal or seeking feedback from trusted colleagues can help you become more conscious of your emotional patterns.

2. Control Emotional Responses

Great leaders don’t react impulsively. Before responding to a difficult situation, take a step back. Ask yourself: What’s the best way to approach this? How will my response impact others? Learning to pause before reacting helps build emotional discipline.

3. Listen More, Talk Less

Empathy starts with listening. When an employee or colleague speaks, focus on understanding their perspective rather than immediately forming a response. Active listening makes people feel heard and valued, which strengthens relationships.

4. Develop a Growth Mindset

Emotionally intelligent leaders don’t see mistakes as failures—they see them as opportunities to grow. When challenges arise, ask: What can I learn from this? How can I improve? Leading with a growth mindset fosters resilience and adaptability.

5. Lead with Authenticity

The best leaders are real, transparent, and approachable. Show your human side. Acknowledge mistakes, express gratitude, and lead with humility. When your team sees you as a genuine person, they’re more likely to respect and follow you.

Final Thoughts: The Leadership Edge

Emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a leadership superpower. It’s what allows leaders to inspire, engage, and bring out the best in their teams. In a world where business moves fast and challenges arise daily, the ability to lead with empathy, self-awareness, and resilience is more critical than ever.

So if you want to level up as a leader, start by developing your emotional intelligence. The more you understand and manage emotions—both yours and others’—the more effective, influential, and impactful you’ll be.

About Karry Kleeman

​​Karry Kleeman is a seasoned software executive, go-to-market strategist, and revenue leader. He thrives at the intersection of business growth and human connection, blending a sharp instinct for scaling companies with a deep passion for people and a commitment to infusing a human touch into the process. He is known for bringing energy and clarity to organizations—rallying teams around a common mission, driving execution, and creating momentum that fuels growth.

With a career spanning decades in enterprise software, Karry has built and led high-performing revenue organizations from early-stage startups to IPOs and strategic acquisitions. He has played a pivotal role in scaling multiple companies to successful exits, generating well over $1 billion in enterprise value. At LogicGate, he architected a go-to-market strategy that propelled the company from $1M to $50M in ARR. At SpringCM, he led the revenue function through its $270M acquisition by DocuSign. And at Mobius he helped scale the business from $3M to over $100M, culminating in a successful IPO.

Karry’s ability to inspire and energize teams is a core part of his leadership. Just as he commands attention and engagement when performing live music, he brings the same presence and intensity to leading teams—aligning them around a shared vision, setting the pace, and ensuring everyone is moving in rhythm toward ambitious goals. When he’s not driving business growth, you’ll find him performing classic rock hits anywhere he can find a live mic.