Primal Leadership (2013) argues that the fundamental task of any great Leader is to engage the emotions of their followers and guide them in a positive direction. Offering up an emotionally intelligent, resonant style of leadership, it delves into the skills and qualities needed to become a better leader and bring out the best in your team.

Introduction: Discover the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership.

What does it take to be a great leader? People might say it’s about having a clear goal, strong plans, and fresh ideas. But great leadership isn’t just about what a leader does – it’s also about how they do it.

In fact, Primal Leadership suggests that emotional intelligence is the most vital part of being an excellent leader. Leaders who are deeply attuned to emotions can inspire their teams by understanding – and speaking to – the things that make them tick.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to explore in this very short summary.

Set the emotional standard

The reason that emotionally intelligent leadership is so crucial in the workplace has to do with the “open-loop” nature of the limbic system – the emotional center of our brains.

Many other systems in our bodies are closed-loop, meaning they aren’t impacted by external factors. For instance, the circulatory system of the person sitting next to you has no direct effect on your own bodily functions. In contrast, open-loop systems are highly dependent on external sources. That’s why our limbic system is able to receive signals from people around us that can alter our hormones, sleep rhythm, and even immune system functions. In other words: our peers have the power to physiologically influence our emotions.

Good leaders can make use of this fact. Throughout history, groups of humans have looked to them for emotional assurance and certainty when facing threats or accomplishing tasks. It’s likely that ancient leaders were placed in their roles because their leadership style was emotionally compelling.

In modern organizations, this primal aspect of leadership is often overlooked – but the concept remains just as important. Especially in the workplace, people often take their cues from the top. The way that a leader approaches and executes their work carries special weight. Leaders “manage meaning” for the group as a whole, setting the emotional standard for how to interpret and react to any situation.

Leaders who learn to maximize the benefits of primal leadership can drive the emotions of their employees in a positive direction. And the better they are at transmitting positive emotions, the more powerfully the good feelings are spread.

Of course, this isn’t to say that leaders have to be overly nice or fake positivity when things go wrong. Instead, what matters is communicating the realities of worklife without causing undue stress. The more demanding the work, the greater the need for a supportive, empathetic leader.

Not only does an emotionally intelligent leadership style benefit the well-being of employees – and the organization as a whole – but it has also been shown to improve efficiency. After all, we’re not robots … yet! The way we feel at work directly impacts the effort we’re willing to put in.

Lead with resonance

In some ways, leading people is like making music. When a leader positively affects a group’s emotions, they’re leading with resonance; if a leader uses negativity to undermine the group’s emotional foundations, they’re creating dissonance.

So, how do you become a resonant leader? There are four domains of emotional intelligence you need to master.

The first domain is self-awareness. While the ability to be self-aware is often neglected in business settings, it’s arguably the most important factor of good leadership. If a leader can’t understand and manage their own emotions, how can they expect to understand the emotions of others? Also, a leader who’s attuned to their inner signals can recognize a feeling like anger or resentment, and work through it constructively before it crescendos into an outburst.

Flowing directly from self-awareness comes the domain of self-management, which encompasses the focus and drive that all great leaders need to achieve their goals. This domain acts as a constant inner dialogue that keeps leaders moving in the right direction.

The key to the third domain – social awareness – is practicing empathy. By paying close attention to how others are feeling, a leader can say exactly what’s needed in the moment and act appropriately for each situation. Resonant leaders are able to convey their feelings honestly, in a way that propels their reports toward positive action.

The first three domains come together to support the fourth – relationship management. This domain comprises some of the skills most commonly associated with leadership, including collaboration, conflict management, and persuasion.

Your ability to effectively manage relationships boils down to how well you can embrace other people’s feelings, act with empathy, and become aware of your own emotions. This is where you, as a leader, truly get to put your primal leadership skills to the test.

Summary

Throughout history, groups have turned to their leaders for emotional guidance. Though often overlooked in today’s modern workplace, this primal leadership ability is more important than ever.

Together, the four domains of emotional intelligence – self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management – form the skillset needed to become an emotionally intelligent and resonant leader. These domains aren’t inherent skills that all great leaders are born with, but they can be learned and perfected with patience and lots of practice.

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