100 Best Quotes about Emotional Intelligence for Leadership

Emotional Intelligence is one of the crucial qualities a leader must possess. “Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people to inspire and empower their lives,” – says Oprah Winfrey, a famous American television host, actor, producer, and philanthropist.

You can be emotionally strong and a great leader if you follow, read, and listen to great leaders’ quotes and speeches. I’ve compiled some of the best quotes on Emotional Intelligence and Leadership that will inspire you and heighten your thoughts.

So, keep reading it till the end. Also, save your favorite ones from the list.

The Best Emotional Intelligence That Requires in Leadership

1. “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.” – Dale Carnegie

Emotional Intelligence Leadership Quotes

2. “CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence Quotes For Leadership

3. “Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Quotes on Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

4. “No doubt emotional intelligence is rarer than book smarts, but my experience says it is actually more important in the making of a leader. You can’t ignore it.” – Jack Welch

Emotions quotes for Leaders

5. “Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence.” – Robert K. Cooper

Emotional quotes for Leaders

6. “There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity, and authenticity (people don’t like fakes), a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation.” – Sylvia Ann Hewlett

EQ quotes for leader

7. Leadership is about empathy. It is about relating to and connecting with people to inspire and empower their lives. – Oprah Winfrey

empathy quotes for leadership
empathy quotes for leadership

8. “A compassionate leader always feels motivated to bring happiness and relieve the suffering of customers, investors, suppliers, employees, government and the communities.” ― Amit Ray

compassionate leadership quotes
compassionate leadership quotes

9. A real leader uses every issue, no matter how serious and sensitive, to ensure that at the end of the debate, we should emerge stronger and more united than ever before. – Nelson Mandela

real leader quotes
real leader quotes

10. A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. —Douglas MacArthur

True leadership quotes
True leadership quotes

11. “Leadership is all about emotional Intelligence. Management is taught, while Leadership is experienced.” – Rajeev Suri

Leadership Emotional Quotes

12. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. —John Quincy Adams

Inspire Leadership Quotes

13. “As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.” ― Amit Ray

Artificial Intelligence Quotes

14. “Emotional Intelligence, more than any other factor, more than I.Q. or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work… I.Q. is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn’t make you a star. Emotional Intelligence can.” – Warren G. Bennis

Emotional Intelligence Quotes

15. Great leaders have three things: inner light, inner vision, and inner strength. – Amit Ray

Great Leader Quotes

16. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. —Max DePree

Responsible Leadership Quotes

17. Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch

Success Leadership Quotes

18. A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit. —John C. Maxwell

Good Leadership Quotes

19. A person who is happy is not because everything is right in his life; he is happy because his attitude towards everything in his life is right. – Sundar Pichai

Happy person Quotes

20. A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along, they are being directed from behind. – Nelson Mandela

Shepherd Leader Quotes

21. Leadership to me means duty, honor, and country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time. We need the feminine qualities of Leadership, which include attention to aesthetics and the environment, nurturing affection, intuition, and the qualities that make people feel safe and cared for. – Deepak Chopra

Leadership Quotes

22. “The strength of character and emotional intelligence to face your failures and learn from them are at the core of success.” – Robert Kiyosaki

Quotes for Strength

23. The challenge of Leadership is to be strong but not rude; be kind but not weak; be bold but not bully; be thoughtful but not lazy; be humble but not timid; be proud but not arrogant; have humor but without folly. —Jim Rohn

Humor Leadership Quotes

24. Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished. – Lisa Cash Hanson

Leadership Guidance Quotes

25. The first job of Leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation. – Rick Warren

Leadership's Job Quotes

Emotional Intelligence Quotes You Need to Become a People’s Leader

26. True Leadership lies in guiding others to success–in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do, and doing it well. – Bill Owens

True Leadership Quotes

27. “Leadership is not just some empty formulas but establishing a deep connection at soul levels through service, integrity, passion, perseverance, and equanimity.” ― Amit Ray

Leadership Formula Quotes

28. A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. —Douglas MacArthur

Confidence Leadership Quotes

29. “There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity, and authenticity (people don’t like fakes), a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation.” – Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Leadership Quotes

30. Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch

Success Leader Quotes

31. “The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are.” – John C. Maxwell

32. “We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel.” — Marshall B. Rosenberg

33. “Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence.” – Robert K. Cooper

34. “It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of heart over head — it is the unique intersection of both.” — David Caruso

35. “Leadership is not about being the best. It is about making everyone else better.” – Anonymous

Empowerment Through Leadership Quotes

36. “In my experience, emotional intelligence can be just as important, if not more important, than technical skills for leadership success.” – Michael Jordan

37. “The emotionally intelligent person is skilled in four areas: identifying emotions, using emotions, understanding emotions, and regulating emotions.” — John Mayer and Peter Salovey

38. “Leaders with high emotional intelligence can connect with their teams on a deeper level, which often leads to higher levels of trust and productivity.” – Travis Bradberry

39. “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman

40. “Great leaders move us. They ignite our passion and inspire the best in us. When we try to explain why they are so effective, we speak of strategy, vision, or powerful ideas. But the reality is much more primal: Great leadership works through the emotions.” – Daniel Goleman

Power of Great Leadership Quotes

41. “What matters is hard work and emotional intelligence.” – Mickey Drexler

42. “If we lack emotional intelligence, whenever stress rises the human brain switches to autopilot and has an inherent tendency to do more of the same, only harder. Which, more often than not, is precisely the wrong approach in today’s world.” — Robert K. Cooper

43. “Emotional competence is the single most important personal quality that each of us must develop and access to experience a breakthrough. Only through managing our emotions can we access our intellect and our technical competence. An emotionally competent person performs better under pressure.” — Dave Lennick

44. “Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, and to recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others.” – Daniel Goleman

45. “Emotional intelligence is not the triumph of heart over head. It is the unique intersection of both.” – David Caruso

Emotional Intelligence Balance Quotes

46. “Experiencing one’s self in a conscious manner–that is, gaining self-knowledge–is an integral part of learning.” — Joshua M. Freedman

47. “Feelings are not supposed to be logical. Dangerous is the man who has rationalized his emotions.” — David Borenstein

48. “Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business.” — Norman Vincent Peale

49. “Emotional intelligence is a way of recognizing, understanding, and choosing how we think, feel, and act. It shapes our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves.” – Daniel Goleman

50. “Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success.” – Travis Bradberry

Emotional intelligence Success Quotes

Motivational Quotes on Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

51. “Emotional intelligence is not just about emotions. It’s about being smart with feelings.” – Anonymous

52. “The emotionally intelligent person is skilled in four areas: identifying emotions, using emotions, understanding emotions, and regulating emotions.” – John Mayer

53. “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” — William James

54. “Anyone can be angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not easy.” – Aristotle

55. “Leadership is not a position; it’s an action, a mindset, and a commitment to serving others.” – Anonymous

Beyond Titles Leadership Quotes

56. “The most effective leaders are those who lead with their hearts and inspire with their actions.” – Anonymous

57. “In the journey of leadership, the path less traveled often leads to the greatest discoveries.” -Anonymous

58. “Emotional intelligence is the secret sauce that can make a difference in your life.” – Anonymous

59. “Emotional intelligence is like a muscle. It needs to be exercised and developed.” – Anonymous

60. “Emotional intelligence is not just a soft skill; it’s a hard skill that can drive bottom-line results.” – David Caruso

Emotional Intelligence Hard Results Quotes

61. “There is an old-fashioned word for the body of skills that emotional intelligence represents: character.” – Daniel Goleman

62. “Inhale emotional intelligence exhale forgiveness and civility.” – T.Y Howard

63. “Emotional intelligence is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.” – Travis Bradberry

64. “Having emotional intelligence allows you to manage your emotions, show empathy, and prevent you from getting distracted. It also helps you solve problems and be a more likable person.” – John Rampton

65. “Emotional intelligence is a very important skill set, not just to be happier but also to succeed professionally.” – Daniel Lubetzky

Success Catalyst Emotional Intelligence Quotes

66. “Emotional intelligence is when you finally realize it’s not all about you.” – Peter Stark

67. “Emotional intelligence is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results.” – Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves

68. “Emotional intelligence begins to develop in the earliest years. All the small exchanges children have with their parents, teachers, and with each other carry emotional messages.” – Daniel Goleman

69. “Some of the greatest moments in human history were fueled by emotional intelligence.” – Adam Grant

70. “Emotional intelligence allows us to respond instead of react.” – Anonymous

Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Quotes

71. “It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence; it is not the triumph of heart over head – it is the unique intersection of both.” – David Caruso

72. “Emotional Intelligence grows through perception. Look around at your present situation and observe it through the level of feeling.” – Deepak Chopra

73. “Empathy and social skills are social intelligence, the interpersonal part of emotional intelligence. That’s why they look alike.” – Daniel Goleman

74. “Teach your kids emotional intelligence. Help them become more evolved than you are. Explain that, for instance, not everyone will like them.” – Pamela Druckerman

75. “Leadership is not about being in control. It is about making others feel in control.” – Anonymous

Empowering Leadership Quotes

The Emotional Intelligence Quotes to Inspire You to Be a Humble Leader

76. “Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business.” — Norman Vincent Peale

77. “Emotional intelligence can be the game changer to high performance and personal leadership.” – Anonymous

78. “IQ and technical skills are important, but emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership.” – Daniel Goleman

79. “CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman

80. “Leaders with high emotional intelligence find ways to respect emotions, be authentic, and hold others (and themselves) accountable.” – Anonymous

Emotional Intelligence Leadership Quotes

81. “A leader who understands emotional intelligence will achieve milestones.” — Ishita Vadher

82. “Your day will go the way your emotional intelligence guides both your thoughts and actions.” – T.Y Howard

83. “No doubt emotional intelligence is rarer than book smarts, but my experience says it is more important in the making of a leader. You can’t ignore it.” – Jack Welch

84. “Leadership is not domination, but the art of persuading people to work toward a common goal.” ― Daniel Goleman

85. “Emotional self-awareness is the building block of the next fundamental emotional intelligence: being able to shake off a bad mood” ― Daniel Goleman

Emotional self awareness Quotes

86. “It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of Intelligence; it is not the triumph of heart over head. It is the unique intersection of both.” – David Caruso.

87. “Beauty is an asset, just like physical prowess, charisma, brains, or emotional intelligence.” – Dale Archer

88. “No doubt emotional intelligence is rarer than book smarts, but my experience says it is actually more important in the making of a leader. You just can’t ignore it.” – Jack Welch

89. “A leader who understands emotional intelligence well achieves milestones.” – Ishita Vadher

90. “We define emotional intelligence as the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” – Salovey And Mayer

Defined Emotional Intelligence Quotes

91. “Emotional intelligence is the ability to use emotion to increase your own and other’s success.” – Annie McKee

92. “Five components of emotional intelligence at work: Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill.” – Anonymous

93. “Emotional intelligence is what humans are good at and that’s not a sideshow. That’s the cutting edge of human intelligence.” – Ray Kurzweil

94. “Definition of Emotional Intelligence: The ability to create a balance between knowing what you don’t know and that what you know can be improved.” – Anonymous

95. “Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be broken down into the understanding and management of our own thoughts and feelings as well as the understanding of others.” – Anonymous

Quotes on Emotional Intelligence Self and Others

96. “What I’ve come to realize is that emotional intelligence, which I define as buoyancy, was the only way I knew how to lead, and is, in my opinion, the only way to inspire real change.” – Kevin Allen

97. “Emotional intelligence allows you to regulate and manage your emotions to make yourself emotionally and socially strong. Emotional intelligence helps shape our interactions with others by adding to our skills.” – Anonymous

98. “Even though a high IQ is no guarantee of prosperity, prestige, or happiness in life, our schools and our culture fixate on academic abilities, ignoring the emotional intelligence that also matters immensely for our personal destiny.” – Daniel Goleman

99. “Emotional intelligence is a different way of being smart. It includes knowing what your feelings are and using your feelings to make good decisions in life.” – J. O’Neil

100. “Emotional intelligence plays an important role in a well-balanced and productive workplace, as well as in leadership development.” – Allan Schweyer

Power of Emotional Intelligence

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