Embrace EQ: How to Slow Down to Speed Up Your Leadership Success

A few years ago, I was invited to contribute to the book Postcards From Tomorrow, a compilation of letters from 270 women to their 21-year-old selves. The activity led me to reflect on my life then, which continued my regular reflective practice, which I refer to as stop, breathe, reflect. 

 As a 21-year-old in Western Australia, I was a young woman driven by a desire for new experiences and to escape from the perceived constraints of my (then) life. My relocation the previous year from Geraldton, a regional town, to the capital city of Western Australia started a journey filled with aspirations and a longing for greater anonymity and independence. Despite wanting to be non-conformist, the truth was that I conformed to a path that many women of my era followed: career, marriage, and family.

Reflecting on this period of my life through the lens of emotional intelligence (EQ), as detailed in my book The Leadership Compass, I once again realised the value of self-awareness and reflective practice in my personal and professional growth. I now know the importance of listening to my inner voice, a concept deeply rooted in EQ. Societal norms and rigid gender stereotypes often stifled my inner voice. As a result, I strayed off the path to my true aspirations and potential.

In The Leadership Compass, I emphasise the significance of EQ in leadership. Emotionally intelligent leaders possess the ability to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as recognise and influence the feelings of others. This skill is critical in navigating the complexities of leadership roles. As Dr Daniel Goleman says, you must lead yourself before you can lead others and organisations. 

You must lead yourself before you can lead others and organisations. 

Gaining greater emotional intelligence skills through reflective practice is critical for leaders. Leaders must regularly stop, breathe and reflect or, as I also say, "get off the hamster wheel"! By cultivating a habit of self-reflection and mindfulness, leaders can better align their actions with their values and aspirations. This alignment is crucial in developing credible, genuine leadership styles that resonate with and inspire others.

In hindsight, my advice to my younger self and emerging leaders is to embrace the power of slowing down. Slowing down isn't about reducing ambition or drive; it's about creating space for introspection, allowing us to engage deeply with our thoughts, feelings, and values. I value the saying, "You need to slow down to speed up." By taking the time to understand ourselves (slowing down), we can accelerate (speed up) our journey towards a life and a career that soars!

You need to slow down to speed up

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Being a high EQ leader and having a reputation as a high EQ leader is essential in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Tapping into our EQ skills means we listen to our inner voice, embrace our genuine selves, and lead with purpose and passion. As we navigate this journey called life, lets remember that slowing down to stop, breathe and reflect means we can speed up towards a life well lived sooner. 

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