Your Leadership Sinks or Soars on These Social Arts

When Melburn McBroom barked orders on his flight crew, he thought he was demonstrating leadership. Instead, his domineering style silenced any warnings about the failing landing gear—until fuel ran out and tragedy struck. This cockpit horror story laid bare a universal truth: emotional intelligence is not optional in leadership. Teams freeze, hide bad news, and follow orders blindly under fear.

Contrast that with the story of an engineer who, after botching a prototype, asked his VP for specifics. The VP explained the design flaw calmly and offered to brainstorm solutions. Their collaborative fix cut development time by 30%. The engineer felt heard, morale soared, and productivity spiked. This wasn’t luck—just the power of balanced feedback and empathetic listening.

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, emotional skills are your secret weapon. Leaders who solicit candid feedback, validate diverse perspectives, and follow through on commitments tap into collective intelligence and loyalty. Emotional fluency turns work from a mechanical grind into a shared mission—where every voice matters and every idea can spark breakthrough innovation.

Start tomorrow by asking a team member, ‘How can I support you better?’ Listen closely, paraphrase their point, and thank them for sharing. Next, when giving feedback, highlight one strength and one area to grow—‘Your data report was thorough; let’s refine the executive summary next time.’ Invite one contrarian opinion in your next meeting and validate it aloud before responding. Then after any decision, send a brief note on progress and next steps. Watch how these small rituals build trust and amplify performance.