Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Flashcards
7 cards from real Soft Skills - Communication practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Emotional Intelligence in Leadership flashcards as text
A leader's team is anxious about an upcoming organizational restructuring. The most emotionally intelligent communication approach is to:
Answer: Acknowledge the uncertainty, validate concerns, and share what is known
Validating emotions and sharing available information transparently reduces anxiety and builds trust during uncertainty.
The term 'amygdala hijack,' coined by Daniel Goleman, refers to:
Answer: An intense emotional reaction that bypasses rational thinking
An amygdala hijack occurs when the brain's emotional center overrides the prefrontal cortex, producing fight-or-flight responses that impair judgment.
Which behavior signals LOW emotional intelligence in a leader during team disagreements?
Answer: Dismissing dissenting opinions as obstructive
Dismissing dissent shuts down psychological safety and shows a failure to regulate one's own frustration or empathize with others' views.
A leader who tailors their communication style to each team member's emotional needs is primarily exercising which EI competency?
Answer: Social skills and adaptability
Adapting style to individual needs demonstrates advanced social skills — a key EI domain — by meeting people where they are emotionally.
Research on psychological safety (Amy Edmondson) and EI in leadership suggests that leaders high in EI are more likely to:
Answer: Create environments where team members feel safe to speak up and take risks
High-EI leaders model vulnerability and empathy, which are the foundational conditions for psychological safety in teams.
A leader who seeks out and genuinely considers negative feedback about their own leadership style is demonstrating:
Answer: High self-awareness and growth mindset
Actively seeking critical feedback requires self-awareness and the emotional security to view criticism as developmental rather than threatening.
In cross-cultural leadership, emotional intelligence is especially important because:
Answer: Emotional expressions and display rules vary significantly across cultures
Different cultures have distinct norms about expressing and interpreting emotions, requiring culturally aware empathy and social skills.