The world feels heavy.
Gallup’s 2025 State of the World’s Emotional Health report shows that worry, stress, and sadness remain at some of the highest levels in decades. These emotions run deeper than daily stress. They reflect how people are truly feeling about their lives. When emotional strain grows, it affects not only individual health but also the wellbeing and stability of entire communities.
The same pattern plays out inside organizations. When people feel overwhelmed or disconnected, focus fades, trust weakens, and collaboration becomes harder. When people feel seen, supported, and respected, the atmosphere changes. Work becomes more human, and performance follows.
Emotional intelligence, or EI, is the ability to notice, understand, and manage emotions in yourself and in others. It helps leaders create steady, caring environments where people can do their best work.
Gallup’s research highlights a powerful truth: emotions are not soft or secondary. They are part of the structure that supports healthy societies and effective workplaces. When leaders pay attention to emotions, they strengthen that foundation.
The report also found that most people still experience moments of respect and connection each day. Those moments matter. Respect and empathy are not just good manners. They help people feel safe enough to contribute, take risks, and grow.
Emotional intelligence also makes sound business sense. Organizations led by emotionally intelligent leaders see stronger engagement, lower turnover, and more effective collaboration. When people feel understood and valued, they are more willing to share ideas, solve problems creatively, and stay committed to the work. In that way, EI becomes both a human commitment and a strategic advantage.
Leaders who value emotional intelligence bring steadiness to uncertainty. They build cultures where emotions are understood, not dismissed. Noticing someone’s frustration or exhaustion early can prevent burnout later, protecting both people and performance.
Great leadership begins with self-awareness. The CliftonStrengths framework helps leaders understand their natural patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior, especially under stress. When leaders recognize those patterns, they can lead with greater clarity and purpose.
A leader high in Empathy might sense tension in a meeting and pause to ask what is really going on. Someone strong in Analytical might bring calm by grounding emotions in facts. A person with Command or Self-Assurance can model confidence that steadies others in uncertain moments.
This awareness grows through curiosity. It begins in small moments like how you speak under pressure, the energy you bring into a room, or how you notice a colleague’s silence before it becomes withdrawal. These moments of noticing build the emotional strength that leadership requires.
Emotional intelligence is not a soft skill to develop once everything else is in place. It is the foundation of effective leadership and a wise business decision. Leaders who understand the emotional climate of their teams create trust, adaptability, and resilience. They sense when energy is low, when tension is rising, or when someone’s confidence is slipping, and they respond with empathy rather than reaction.
Gallup’s findings show that emotions act as early indicators of health and stability, both in societies and within organizations. Leaders who recognize emotions as signals rather than distractions make better decisions and build stronger teams. Paying attention to emotions strengthens engagement, collaboration, and performance, especially in times of stress or change.
Emotional intelligence is more than caring about people; it is a strategic capability. Teams led by emotionally intelligent leaders adapt faster, communicate more clearly, and sustain performance through uncertainty. Investing in this skill builds resilience, which is the most valuable resource any organization can have.
As the article showed, peace and health rise and fall together. The same is true for emotional intelligence and leadership.
When leaders understand and manage their own emotions, they create stability for others. When they notice and respond to what their teams are feeling, they build cultures of trust, resilience, and hope.
In a world that often feels uncertain and divided, emotional intelligence is not only the right thing to do. It is also a wise business choice. It strengthens people, deepens loyalty, and sustains performance over time.
Emotional intelligence is not just part of good leadership. It is what makes leadership possible.