Being angered by pressing issues and seeking to fight them and being angry over minor things and wanting to let hell break loose can serve as a perfect extract in examining the leadership and emotional intelligence of a leader within the public domain.
There has been a great concern among Ghanaians regarding President Akufo-Addo’s leadership and emotional intelligence based on his unpresidential reaction and fury over the Mempeasem Chief’s inability to rise to observe the National Anthem at the Green Ghana Day.
What we saw being displayed in the video that went viral could be the tip of the eyes burg of the furious personality of the President only his inner circles and political elite get to see often. Is the President really annoyed at the most worrying problem Ghana has as of the Green Day? Does this mean that President Akufo-Addo spontaneously responds to unpleasant ’emotional stimuli’ in this manner?
Based on the video capturing President Akufo-Addo’s furious ordering and unpresidential body language, suggests that he may have a tendency to respond to unpleasant emotional stimuli with anger or fury from the leadership perspective.
This approach to getting issues resolved as a leader is never the best. A leader who stays angrily calm in time of anger is a super emotionally stable leader and that is what leadership should be.
This kind of spontaneous as seen from President Akuffo Addo’s reaction can be indicative of a leader who lacks Emotional Intelligence (EI) and struggles to manage his emotions effectively.
EI in leadership has to do with a leader appreciating the emotions of others, his or her emotions, and managing them as well (one’s emotions) while helping to control the emotions and perspectives of others.
At the time the President got furious, there was no information about why the Chief did not rise to observe the National Anthem. However, he explained later that he was in poor health and could not be on his feet and went ahead to apologize.
Could the President not find a better and higher level of emotional stability in the midst of the moment to instead find out calmly why the chief did not rise and in a way that even those present may not notice?
President Akufo-Addo’s response to their actions, as captured in the video, may not have effectively addressed their concerns or fostered a constructive dialogue on the issue.
The President’s body language during that occasion was quite troubling and unpresidential since it was done in the public glare. Ghanaians generally revere our chiefs, and this culture should be continued, including the President himself, regardless of the circumstance.
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
Recently, the topic of emotional intelligence has come up frequently while discussing leadership. It is a trait that can be assessed and improved, that much is certain. But what precisely is it, and how does it affect how we now think about leadership?
The ability to recognise and manage one’s own emotions, as well as harness those feelings effectively to have the best response possible when circumstances call for it, is referred to as emotional intelligence. It also has to do with being sensitive to and aware of other people’s feelings.
Therefore, emotional intelligence is a crucial quality for anybody working at any level of an organisation, but it is more crucial for those in leadership roles. A leader’s emotional intelligence can have a significant impact on their interpersonal interactions, team management, and overall workplace interactions.
What is emotional intelligence?
The capacity to perceive, comprehend, and manage your own emotions as well as those of those around you is known as emotional intelligence, or EI. People who possess high levels of emotional intelligence are aware of their feelings, what they signify, and how they may effect others.
Emotional intelligence is essential for leaders to succeed. Consider this: Which type of leader is more likely to move the organisation forward: one who loses control of their emotions and those of others when under pressure, or one who calmly analyses the situation?
The term “emotional intelligence” (EI) refers to a set of skills needed to recognise, comprehend, manage, and evaluate one’s own and other people’s emotions, according to the team Salovey and Mayer (1990). The American psychologist Daniel Goleman, who contributed to the popularisation of emotional intelligence, identified five essential components.
- self-awareness;
- self-regulation;
- motivation;
- empathy, and;
- social skills.
What are the factors that prove that a leader who displays public anger or furry is a poor leader and lacks emotional intelligence?
When a leader displays public anger or fury, it can be indicative of poor leadership skills and a lack of emotional intelligence. Here are some factors that support this notion:
Leaders with low or no emotional intelligence have impaired decision-making
A leader’s judgment and ability to make decisions are easily clouded when he or she chooses anger instead of a stable outlook and mind.
An angry leader may act impulsively and irrationally because, at that point in time, he or she has lost the capacity to reason critically and logically. This is exactly what happened on Green Day, and it resulted in poor decisions by the president which has had a detrimental impact on us all as citizens who believe he should have acted better.
In moments of anger, communication efficacy gets decreased.
An angry leader who is enraged may decide to deploy abrasive or disparaging language, gestures, and other non-verbal expressions, which fosters an adversarial atmosphere and prevents collaboration. It becomes challenging to have an open discourse that is beneficial, which causes miscommunications, disagreements, and lower productivity.
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Relationship damage
Leaders who frequently display anger run the danger of alienating team members, coworkers, and stakeholders. Anger outbursts can erode trust and respect by fostering a culture of fear. Due to the hostile workplace climate, subordinates may lose interest in their work, become unmotivated, or even look for alternate alternatives.
Emotional incompetence: Emotional intelligence entails understanding and controlling one’s own and others’ emotions. Leaders who frequently express rage in front of the public show that they lack emotional control and self-awareness. They might have trouble controlling their emotions and react rashly, which would undermine their capacity to uplift and motivate others.
Negative impact on team morale
The mood of a team as a whole is significantly impacted by a leader’s emotional state. Public outbursts of rage foster a hostile and demoralising environment that makes team members stressed and anxious. Reduced productivity, more absenteeism, and greater turnover rates can all be caused by low morale.
Poor conflict resolution
Effective leaders possess the skills to manage conflicts and resolve disputes in a calm and constructive manner. However, a leader who displays public anger or fury may resort to aggression, intimidation, or coercion when faced with disagreements. This approach can escalate conflicts and hinder the development of mutually beneficial solutions.
Lack of empathy and understanding
Emotional intelligence involves empathizing with others and understanding their perspectives. Leaders who consistently exhibit anger may struggle to understand the emotions and concerns of their team members. This lack of empathy can lead to a disconnect between the leader and their subordinates, resulting in decreased trust and cooperation.
READ: President Akufo-Addo’s public fury regarding the Mempeasem Chief was unpresidential
It’s important to note that occasional displays of anger or frustration are normal for leaders, as they are human too. However, consistent and public outbursts of anger without appropriate emotional management can indicate a lack of emotional intelligence and poor leadership qualities.
Source: Wisdom HAMMOND