Artificial Intelligence vs Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence differentiates leaders. It involves self/social awareness and management. Crucial with AI, it enables human connection technology lacks.
5/8/20242 min read
With AI impacting pretty much everything we do at work, the topic of emotional intelligence (EI) is an important one as it brings a human element that AI cannot replace (at least not yet).
But what exactly is EI and what isn't EI? I thought to explain it in a simplistic way that all leaders can understand.
What are the components of EI?
- Awareness of your own emotional states and what triggers them
- Being able to manage those emotions instead of letting them manage you
- Accurate perception of other people's emotional states
- Modulating your communication and style in the light of this knowledge
It's not a difficult concept in theory, but it can be difficult to implement in practice.
I remember one of my previous supervisors when I was a reasonably young project manager —intellectually competent with outstanding credentials and extensive industry experience. But his emotional intelligence was almost zero. He would come to meetings with frustration from the last interactions, overreact to small mistakes, and was completely unaware of team burnout signals. It didn't make things easier for the team working for him.
A current executive I work with, on the other hand, has almost an instinctive knack for sensing emotional undertows. During presentations, he'll pause when sensing uncertainty and ask, "What concerns aren't being expressed here?" This leaves space for people to express apprehensions that they might otherwise conceal. Issues are taken care of rather than developing into bigger problems. It is not magic—it is sensitivity and awareness of emotions.
In my experience, there are five key elements of emotional intelligence:
1. Self-awareness: Knowledge of your emotional patterns and blind spots (I'm working on improving defensiveness when my analysis is challenged)
2. Self-regulation: Developing the skill to pause between stimulus and response rather than acting on impulse
3. Internal motivation: Possessing a sense of purpose independent of external sources of reward such as pay or status
4. Social awareness: Reading others accurately through close attention to both verbal and non-verbal communication
5. Relationship management: Developing effective professional relationships
Why has this become particularly crucial in our AI-enriched world? Because even though computational systems excel at pattern matching and data analysis, they just can't grasp human emotion or relationship dynamics. Technology can't:
- Feel tension beneath the surface in meetings
- Build true trust in moments of uncertainty
- Inspire discouraged teams
- Deal with intricate interpersonal dilemmas
- Create real understanding and connection
Managers who are emotionally aware are not perfect — They still occasionally send regrettable emails and overlook subtle interpersonal signals. But they have become increasingly certain that as artificial intelligence takes on more analytical tasks, their emotional intelligence is one of their most unique professional strengths they can use to keep their staff engaged.
Two questions for you to ponder:
How often do you demonstrate emotional intelligence in your day to day dealings with others?
What would happen if you demonstrated these traits more? How would things improve?
Empowering leaders through innovative coaching solutions.
dgexecccoach@gmail.com
© 2025. All rights reserved.
DAVID GIANG