Emotional Intelligence and Teams: Why EI Drives Better Performance

Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Secret Ingredient Behind High-Performing Teams

Emotional intelligence and teams are inseparable — when leaders and employees strengthen EI skills, team performance, communication, and problem-solving rise dramatically.

There is an old Japanese proverb that translates into “None of us is as smart as all of us,” and it applies directly to the formation and effectiveness of teams.

In the past, organizations relied heavily on individual problem-solvers or a single dominant personality. Teams — if they existed — were simply extensions of that individual’s thinking.

Today, the most successful organizations understand that team outcomes improve when every member contributes ideas, opinions, and perspectives. But collaboration doesn’t happen naturally — and that’s where Emotional Intelligence (EI) comes in.

The Five Core Competencies of Emotional Intelligence

EI skills are teachable, measurable, and transformational. They fall into two categories:

Personal Competencies (Managing Self)

• Self-Awareness — Understanding internal states, preferences, intuition

• Self-Regulation — Managing impulses, emotions, and reactions

• Motivation — Emotional drive fueling goal achievement

Social Competencies (Managing Relationships)

• Empathy — Recognizing others’ feelings, needs, and concerns

• Social Skills — Guiding interactions and inducing positive responses

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Teams

Before jumping to the conclusion that EI is just age or maturity, consider this:

Do you know anyone with tons of experience who still hasn’t grown — emotionally or professionally?

Most organizations are full of people who are stuck simply because no one ever taught these skills. And the impact is enormous:

• Poor customer interactions

• Declining morale

• Ineffective teamwork

• Unresolved conflict

• Stagnant performance

• Negative impact on the bottom line

Research consistently shows that EI is one of the strongest predictors of success for both leaders and teams (Johnson & Johnson, Goleman, Grossman, Scarnati).

The higher the EI competence of the group, the more likely you’ll see:

• Better problem solving

• More effective communication

• Increased collaboration

• Higher team morale

• Improved customer loyalty

• Stronger organizational outcomes

Leaders Go First

The leader of the team should be the most well-versed in EI — because their behavior sets the tone. Their ability (or inability) to regulate emotions, demonstrate empathy, and communicate effectively has the greatest impact on team performance. But EI training shouldn’t stop with leadership.

Teams with strong emotional intelligence:

• Recover faster from setbacks

• Avoid unnecessary conflict

• Adapt better to change

• Bring more creativity and insight

• Support continuous improvement

This is what excellence looks like in action.

Excellence Is a Habit — Train for It

As we say at LIA Training: Excellence should be trained for regularly, pushed for daily, and become part of your culture.

If you want stronger teams, you must build stronger emotional intelligence.

Strengthen Team Dynamics With a Practical EI Framework

If you want to grow your team’s ability to communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve, the Emotional Intelligence & Teams workbook gives you practical, real-world strategies to strengthen EI competencies at every level.