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
2. “CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman
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
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
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
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
7. Leadership is about empathy. It is about relating to and connecting with people to inspire and empower their lives. – Oprah Winfrey
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
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
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
11. “Leadership is all about emotional Intelligence. Management is taught, while Leadership is experienced.” – Rajeev Suri
12. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. —John Quincy Adams
13. “As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.” ― Amit Ray
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
15. Great leaders have three things: inner light, inner vision, and inner strength. – Amit Ray
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
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
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
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
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
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
22. “The strength of character and emotional intelligence to face your failures and learn from them are at the core of success.” – Robert Kiyosaki
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
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
25. The first job of Leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation. – Rick Warren
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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I’m Murshid Akram, a introvert who love reading and sharing positive vibes through quotes and sayings. I believe with love and compassion we can make this world a better place.