Emotional Intelligence: Leading Yourself Before Leading Others

By this point in the year, emotions are closer to the surface.

Children are dysregulated. Staff are tired. Leaders are absorbing everyone else’s stress.

This is where emotional intelligence moves from theory to necessity.

Personal leadership requires the ability to: - Notice your own emotional cues - Regulate your response under pressure - Respond to others with empathy instead of reactivity

Emotional intelligence isn’t about suppressing feelings. It’s about understanding them well enough to choose your response.

In teams, emotionally intelligent leadership shows up as: - Calm during moments of chaos - Curiosity instead of defensiveness - Repair after rupture

When leaders lack emotional regulation, teams often mirror that dysregulation. When leaders model it, teams stabilize.

Midyear Leadership Reflection - What emotions am I carrying most often right now? - How do those emotions show up in my tone, decisions, or body language? - What practices help me regulate before I respond?

Download the Emotional Regulation Micro-Guide for Leaders
A practical, easy-to-use guide designed to support steadiness, clarity, and thoughtful responses during emotionally demanding moments.