In project, you will have the possibility to describe emotional competence as a required
leadership skill necessary for today’s leader. You may define in this paper what
emotional competence is. How can it affect the leader’s decision during a crisis impacting
others? Also, when the leader’s feelings and emotions must be considered, emphasizing
the concepts of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills?
Illustrate this paper with samples or a case study.
Contribute a minimum of four pages. It should include at least five academic sources,
formatted and cited in APA.
Your post should be at least four pages (excluding the title page and references),
formatted, and cited in the current APA style with support from at least 5 academic
sources.
, Introduction
In the modern era of organizational complexity, emotional competence has emerged as a
critical leadership capability that distinguishes effective leaders from merely efficient
managers. While technical knowledge and cognitive intelligence remain valuable,
emotional competence—often referred to as emotional intelligence (EI)—is indispensable
for navigating human dynamics, fostering collaboration, and maintaining composure
under pressure. Leaders with strong emotional competence understand and manage their
emotions and those of others to achieve optimal performance outcomes, especially during
crises. This paper explores emotional competence as a vital leadership skill, focusing on
its definition, dimensions, and impact on leadership behavior during challenging
circumstances.
Defining Emotional Competence
Emotional competence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and appropriately
respond to emotions—both one’s own and others’. According to Goleman (1998),
emotional competence encompasses five interrelated components: self-awareness, self-
regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. These competencies form the
foundation for effective interpersonal relationships, ethical decision-making, and team
cohesion. Unlike cognitive intelligence, which focuses on problem-solving and analytical
abilities, emotional competence involves managing the emotional landscape that shapes
human interaction and organizational culture. Mayer and Salovey (1997) argue that
emotional intelligence integrates emotional reasoning with cognitive processing, enabling
leaders to make decisions that balance logic and compassion.