Welcome to Lead with Impact, Your biweekly dose of strategic leadership
insights and practical tips to advance your career, without burnout.
[5-min read]
For a long time, I believed leadership was about ideas, strategy, and clarity.
I worked hard to craft the perfect message, the perfect plan, the perfect pitch.
But I learned something the hard way, perfection means little when people feel unseen.
You can speak with logic, data, and still lose the room.
Because leadership is not about volume.
It is about connection.
That is where emotional intelligence (EI) becomes your advantage.
It shapes how you show up, how you influence others, and how you build trust that lasts longer than any presentation.
Let’s explore the five dimensions of emotional intelligence, and how to apply them every day:
1. Self-Awareness: Read the Room, Starting With Yourself
Why it matters: You lead better when you understand your emotions first.
Self-awareness helps you see how your tone, mood, and mindset affect your environment.
It is learning to pause before reacting and to know the emotion behind your behavior.
What it looks like: You notice tension before it shows in your voice. You recognize when someone’s stress becomes your own, and choose to reset.
Try this:
→ Name the emotion. Before any important meeting, ask yourself: “What feeling am I bringing in?” Naming it reduces its intensity.
→ Track your patterns. After each decision, reflect: “What emotion guided me?” Awareness grows through consistency.
2. Self-Regulation: Keep Calm, Lead Clear
Why it matters: People trust calm leaders more than brilliant ones.
Self-regulation turns emotion into intention. It helps you keep focus when pressure rises and lead with steadiness, not reaction.
What it looks like: You handle sudden challenges without blame. You stay composed while others rush to react.
Try this:
→ Use the pause. A short silence can shift the tone of the entire room.
→ Ask yourself: “What outcome do I want here?” Purpose clears emotional fog.
3. Motivation: Fuel Performance With Meaning
Why it matters: Motivation based on purpose outlasts motivation based on fear.
Leaders with emotional intelligence inspire through meaning. They remind teams that their work has value, not just a target.
What it looks like: Your team stays engaged through setbacks. Your words turn fatigue into focus.
Try this:
→ Connect goals to impact. Replace “We must meet the numbers” with “This project will help our clients save time and stress.”
→ Celebrate progress. Small wins create big energy.
4. Empathy: Lead People, Not Roles
Why it matters: Empathy turns leadership into connection.
It helps you see beyond performance and understand what people need to do their best work. It transforms one-way feedback into two-way trust.
What it looks like: You notice when someone goes quiet. You ask before assuming.
Try this:
→ Be fully present. When someone speaks, close your laptop and look up. Attention builds trust faster than advice.
→ Ask open questions. “What has been most challenging for you this week?” Listening deeply builds safety.
5. Social Skills: Influence Through Connection
Why it matters: Communication is how leadership becomes visible.
Strong social skills make collaboration smoother, feedback easier, and conflict more productive.
What it looks like: You guide tough conversations without tension. You make space for every voice, not just the confident ones.
Try this:
→ Lead with a shared purpose. Start difficult talks with, “We both want this to work; let’s find a way together.”
→ Recognize effort often. A genuine “thank you” builds engagement faster than pressure ever could.
Leadership isn’t about having the smartest voice in the room.
It is about creating a room where every voice feels heard.
When people feel understood, they bring more than skill, they bring commitment.
And all starts with you.
I’m Diana Lasso Strategic Leadership Coach and I help professionals and leaders grow with purpose, and impact. Ready to grow? Let’s walk this journey together.