In a world obsessed with productivity hacks, strategic frameworks, and data-driven decisions, it's easy to overlook the quiet force that underpins truly great leadership: emotional intelligence in business.
While we often celebrate founders for their grit, vision, and hustle, the truth is, those qualities can only take a business so far. What sustains a team during uncertainty, builds loyal customer relationships, and drives a healthy company culture isn't just IQ—it's EQ.
The Real Power Behind Leadership
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, manage, and express your emotions—and to recognize and influence the emotions of others. In the context of business, EQ translates to:
- Responding (not reacting) under pressure
- Reading the room in a negotiation
- Navigating conflict with empathy
- Collaborating and managing a team
- Making others feel seen, heard, and valued
These aren't "soft" skills. They're strategic superpowers that affect everything from employee retention to brand loyalty.
EQ in the Trenches: A Founder’s Advantage
Founders face pressure daily. Investors, competitors, team dynamics, supply chain delays, and customer expectations all demand constant attention. Founders are also often more emotionally tied to the original vision of their company. Emotional intelligence in leadership acts as a kind of traction control: it keeps the mission from spinning out when the road gets messy.
When you can regulate your own emotional state, you're more grounded in tough conversations. When you can hold space for your team's fears or frustrations, you create psychological safety—a key ingredient in high-performing teams.
And when your company hits turbulence (and it will), EQ gives you the lens to see beyond the moment and lead with clarity.
Why EQ Matters to Parents
And here's where it matters not just for founders—but for parents, too. If we want to raise the next generation of resilient, adaptable, and visionary entrepreneurs, we have to start with emotional intelligence. Kids who learn to recognize, express, and regulate their emotions grow into adults who lead with empathy, navigate challenges with grace, and build companies—and communities—that last.
Teaching our children how to sit with discomfort, how to listen to others, and how to bounce back from failure is the best entrepreneurial preparation we can offer. EQ isn't just a business skill—it's a life skill. And it starts at home.
Building Businesses That Last
Legacy isn't just about valuation or exit strategy. It's about impact. Emotionally intelligent leadership helps companies build cultures that people want to be part of—and movements that matter.
In my own entrepreneurial journey, emotional intelligence has been the common thread: as an opera singer, I learned to channel complex emotions through performance; as a lawyer, I learned to listen critically and communicate with precision. As a founder, I've learned that EQ isn't a bonus trait—it's essential.
It's what allows us to lead with integrity, build with compassion, and grow without losing sight of the human heartbeat behind every business.
The Bottom Line
You can outsource marketing. You can hire engineers. But emotional intelligence? That's one skill every founder must cultivate themselves.
Because people don't just buy what you sell. They buy how you make them feel.
If you're building a purpose-driven company or looking to develop strong leadership skills, emotional intelligence in entrepreneurship is the foundation of lasting success.
Want to start building emotional intelligence in your home or classroom? Explore our tools and resources at My Mama Says and help shape the next generation of emotionally intelligent leaders!
