Over the last two decades, emotional intelligence has been heralded as an indispensable component of success. Ever since renowned psychologist Daniel Goleman published his book titled ‘Emotional Intelligence’ in 1995 [1], there is a growing body of evidence on how great leadership and emotional intelligence are interlinked. So what exactly is emotional intelligence? In Goleman’s own words, "emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in us and in our relationships [1]." Emotional intelligence describes abilities distinct from, but complementary to, academic intelligence or purely cognitive capacities measured by the intelligence quotient [1].

Years of research in the business field has shown that although technical abilities and cognitive capacities are important in leadership, they merely serve as an entry requirement. What sets apart great leaders from others is their wealth of emotional intelligence. The five components of emotional intelligence as identified by Goleman are – self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy and social skills [1]. It was once thought that these qualities were merely ‘icing on the cake’, but not essential to have in leadership. Two decades of research and study in this area has resulted in a paradigm shift, not only are these skills essential, they are the hallmark of great leadership.

A systematic review in 2014 [2] showed that there are more than 80 articles highlighting the connection between physician leadership and emotional intelligence. Many authors have identified the need for emotional intelligence in physician leadership development, mentoring and advancement within academic medicine, and developing effective social networks within the healthcare field [2].

Emotional intelligence is something that can be improved through deliberate practice and training [3]. Two recent studies from India highlight the need to incorporate emotional intelligence training in medical education [4,5]. Such curriculum innovation is critical in the development tomorrow’s medical leaders. Physician leaders who possess a high degree of emotional intelligence are able to consistently identify the needs of both patients and colleagues. They are highly effective at reading social cues and gauging responses to their words and actions; they then use this data to improve relationships and achieve positive outcomes.

1. Goleman D. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books;1995.

2. Mintz LJ, Stoller JK. A systematic review of physician leadership and emotional intelligence. J Grad Med Educ. 2014;6:21-31.

3. Chamorro-Premuzic T. Can you really improve your emotional intelligence? Available from:https://hbr.org/2013/05/can-you-really-improve-your-em/.　Accessed January 18, 2020.

4. Swami MK, Mathur DM, Pushp BK. Emotional intelligence, perceived stress and burnout among resident doctors: An assessment of the relationship. National Med J India.2013;26:210-3.

5. Faye A, Kalra G, Swamy R, Shukla A, Subramanyam A, Kamath R. Study of emotional intelligence and empathy in medical postgraduates. Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53:140-4.