The Power of Leading With Heart: Why Emotional Intelligence is the Future of Leadership
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek
The Shift Toward Heart-Centered Leadership
For years, leadership was measured by results—metrics, KPIs, bottom lines. The mindset was simple: get the job done, and do it well.
But over the past decade, something has shifted. Leaders—and more importantly, teams—are craving something deeper: connection, purpose, and empathy.
As Simon Sinek puts it, “Great leaders don’t sacrifice people to save numbers. They sacrifice numbers to save people.”
And that’s where leading with heart comes in.
I’ve been in the trenches—the long hours, the tight deadlines, the pressure to perform. I used to believe that the best leaders were the ones who worked the hardest, pushed the hardest, and never showed cracks.
But that belief led me straight to burnout. And it wasn’t until I found myself completely depleted that I realized something important: Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. ๐
The Science Behind Leading With Heart
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is now considered one of the most vital leadership traits. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that 90% of high-performing leaders have strong EQ—a skill set that includes self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to manage emotions (their own and others’).
Key Components of EQ in Leadership:
- Self-Awareness: Recognizing your own emotions, triggers, and blind spots.
- Empathy: Understanding the emotions and experiences of your team.
- Self-Regulation: Managing stress and responding intentionally, not reactively.
- Social Skills: Building trust, communicating clearly, and fostering authentic relationships.
Leaders with high EQ create spaces where teams feel seen, heard, and valued. And when people feel that way, they thrive.
A Heart-Centered CEO in Action
Let me tell you about Sarah, a CEO of a growing not-for-profit organization.
When Sarah and I first connected, she was caught in a cycle so many leaders find themselves in—balancing rapid growth while trying to preserve her company’s heart-centered mission.
Her team admired her passion, but they also felt disconnected. The workload was growing, and Sarah was unknowingly leading from a place of stress and overwhelm, rather than intention and connection.
In our coaching sessions, we worked on small but powerful shifts:
- She started leading meetings with vulnerability. Instead of diving straight into the agenda, she began each session with a simple check-in: “How’s everyone really feeling today?”
- She practiced active listening. Rather than nodding along while mentally running through her to-do list, she started fully engaging—making eye contact, pausing before responding, and asking deeper questions.
- She shared her challenges. She admitted when she didn’t have all the answers and invited her team into collaborative problem-solving.
The result?
Within three months, her team’s engagement scores increased, turnover rates dropped, and Sarah felt more connected—not just to her team, but to herself.
She told me, “For the first time in months, I feel like I’m leading, not just managing.”
Wisdom from Brené Brown: Leading with Vulnerability
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned about heart-centered leadership came from Brené Brown’s work—especially in her book, Dare to Lead.
She writes, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”
That’s what leading with heart is all about—it’s choosing connection over perfection, and courage over control.
3 Simple Ways to Lead With Heart Today:
- Start With Self-Compassion:
Leadership begins within. Before you can lead others with empathy, you need to extend that grace to yourself. Try starting your day with a simple affirmation: “I am enough, and I’m showing up as my best self today.” - Create Space for Real Conversations:
Beyond project updates and deadlines, carve out time for connection. A simple “What’s one win you had this week?” can open the door to deeper engagement. - Practice the 2-Minute Pause:
Before sending that stressed-out email or giving tough feedback, take two minutes to pause, breathe, and ask: “Am I leading from fear or love right now?” That one moment can shift everything.
Why Leading With Heart Matters Now More Than Ever
We’re living in a world where connection often gets lost in the noise—where emails, deadlines, and to-do lists take over. But the leaders who make the most impact?
They’re the ones who slow down. Who listen. Who lead with empathy, vulnerability, and heart.
As Simon Sinek says, “The responsibility of leadership is not to come up with all the ideas. The responsibility of leadership is to create an environment where great ideas can happen.”
And that kind of environment? It starts with the heart.
Ready to Lead With More Heart?
If this resonates with you, and you’re ready to step into heart-centered leadership, I’d love to support you.
๐ Join my 21-Day Leadership-Happiness Challenge — Build strong happiness habits, boost confidence, and lead thriving teams.
๐ Book a Discovery Call — Let’s talk about how I can support you in creating a more connected, purposeful workplace.
Final Reflection — From My Heart to Yours:
When I first started my journey from corporate America to where I am today, I had no idea the impact that leading with heart would have—not just on my career, but on my entire life.
Books like Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and The Gifts of Imperfection cracked me wide open, showing me that leadership wasn’t about being the most “together” person in the room—it was about being the most real.
Then, discovering Simon Sinek’s Start With Why shifted how I approached my purpose, my mission, and how I wanted to show up in the world.
These lessons changed my life, and now they’re part of the foundation of how I coach and support others.
So here’s my invitation to you: Take one small step today to lead with more heart. Whether it’s offering yourself compassion, asking a deeper question in your next meeting, or simply pausing to breathe—you’re already making an impact.
From my heart to yours,
