There is a growing body of research that points to wide array of attributes that has come to be known as emotional intelligence, which pays a clinching role in shaping outstanding leaders. Emotional intelligence is increasingly being used to winnow the effective leaders from ineffective leaders. This article intends to bring out the five clusters of competencies that shape emotional intelligence, how it is important for leaders and the inexplicable linkages between emotional intelligence and leadership. It also underscores how emotional intelligence in leaders can be further enhanced so that they can turn into leaders nonpareil.

Do emotions have any connection with business? Juxtaposing the word 'emotions' and `business' may sound fatuous and hyperbole. Do leaders bother about emotions of the people whom they are supposed to lead? Aren't leaders as a tribe supposed to be manically obsessed about the results? Aren't corporate leaders being made out to be some kind of organizational ogres? The answer to all these questions is emphatically no with capital N. All styles of leadership works. In fact, it has always worked and will work more beautifully through emotions. There is no gainsaying the fact that leaders had acquired their aura, patina of charisma, credibility, stratospheric levels of success and reputation by offering a compelling emotional rationale to their groundswell of followers. Ask anyone to offer his/her take on, "Who is an ideal leader?" and the response may run the entire gamut. Many would say intelligence, vision and toughness is what makes an ideal leader. Some may argue that steely determination, analytical bent of mind and resolute behavior is what defines an ideal leader. One attribute that is often left off the table is much squishier, very softer and more personal qualities. A growing body of research suggests that they are very relevant and important. There is no getting away from the fact that leaders high on technical and analytical skills will do spectacularly well. But what is going to winnow an outstanding leader from an ordinary leader is the key attribute called `Emotional Intelligence'. According to Daniel Goleman, an iconic psychologist credited with coining the term, some of the attributes that often finds resonance with leadership such as intelligence, vision, and resolutions are bare essentials for leaders to be successful. Such attributes alone would not suffice today. Highly effective leaders are known to possess high degree of emotional intelligence. Underpinning emotional intelligence are five important skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill. Such attributes may seem sloppily soft and way too un-business like. But Daniel Goleman has identified a direct linkage between emotional intelligence and business outcomes.

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