Everywhere I turn, leaders are talking about how AI and rapid transformation are reshaping their organizations. The speed of change is staggering. Yet through all this disruption, one truth is clearer than ever: Emotional intelligence isn’t becoming less relevant—it’s becoming indispensable.
In my work with Fortune 500 leaders and through our New Lens® platform, I’ve seen firsthand how our content and design dramatically increase self-awareness and help leaders understand the impact of their actions on others. The platform offers strategies to navigate change and build resilience so leaders can consistently show up in an optimal way—exactly what's needed in today’s challenging environment.
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters More in 2025
Thirty years ago, Daniel Goleman introduced the framework of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills). Those principles remain the foundation. What's changed is the context in which leaders must apply them.
Hybrid work makes reading body language a matter of interpreting someone’s engagement through a screen. Decision-making happens at unprecedented speed, with incomplete information. Teams are coping with relentless change, fatigue and uncertainty. Leaders can’t rely on old playbooks; they need the capacity to stay grounded themselves while supporting others through ambiguity.
The leaders who thrive today aren't the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who use emotional intelligence to spark collaboration, integrate diverse perspectives and create psychological safety when everything else feels unstable.
The Hidden Cost of Leading Through Change
But here’s the challenge: Even the most capable leaders are stretched thin. Change fatigue wears down energy levels and erodes emotional intelligence. When you’re exhausted, you’re more likely to miss cues, snap in conversations or slip into command-and-control behaviors that undermine trust.
This is why being intentional about developing emotional intelligence matters. It’s the anchor that helps leaders show up with steadiness when the ground beneath them keeps shifting.
Help Your Team Build Emotional Intelligence
Building emotional intelligence across your organization doesn't require extensive resources or time away from critical work. You can create meaningful development through strategic approaches that fit into existing workflows:
Implement regular team check-ins that focus on workload and well-being.
Provide managers with tools for giving growth-focused feedback in real time.
Create structured reflection opportunities that help leaders understand their impact on team performance.
Invest in scalable solutions that make emotional intelligence development accessible to all levels.
Moving Forward with Confidence
If you're feeling stretched thin, you're not alone. But by investing in your emotional intelligence, even in small ways, you’ll navigate today's changes with more confidence and build the foundation for whatever comes next.
Ready to explore how New Lens® can help develop leaders at your organization? Learn more about our platform or contact us to start a conversation about your leadership development needs.
Don’t wait for performance to drop before taking action. Discover how the New Lens® platform helps organizations support managers with bite-sized, actionable learning—built for today’s fast-paced, high-stress environments.