Author: Andrea Jayatilleka
ICF Coach Trainer l Coach Masters Academy Regional Director for Southeast Asia l Mentor Coach l Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner l NLP Practitioner
In the world of leadership and organisational success, it is often strategy, goals, and performance metrics that get the most attention. Yet, over the years, I have come to realise that there is an equally powerful, often underappreciated driver of organisational performance: emotions. Emotions shape how we lead, how we interact, and ultimately, how organisations thrive—or struggle.
As a leadership coach, I have witnessed firsthand the critical role emotions play in leadership effectiveness. The leaders who inspire their teams, create meaningful connections, and foster collaboration are those who understand and manage emotions—not just their own, but also those of the people they lead. This emotional awareness is the foundation of an emotional culture, a culture where emotions are acknowledged, valued, and strategically harnessed to drive the organisation forward.
The Invisible Influence of Emotions in Leadership
Emotions are the undercurrent of every decision we make, every action we take. In leadership, this emotional undercurrent can either lift a team to new heights or pull it into dysfunction. Leaders who are in tune with the emotional dynamics of their teams can recognize early signs of stress, disengagement, or frustration and address these issues before they become critical problems.
Effective leaders also know how to inspire positive emotions like trust, excitement, and confidence, valued, empowered and purposeful which in turn fuel motivation and performance. They create an environment where people feel emotionally safe—safe to express their ideas, to take risks, and even to fail. This emotional safety fosters creativity and innovation, which are essential for any organisation aiming to thrive in today’s complex and fast-paced world.
Culture’s impact on employee motivation and retention
Creating an emotional culture starts with leadership. Leaders set the emotional tone for their teams, whether consciously or not. The way leaders handle stress, celebrate success, or manage conflict sends powerful signals to the rest of the organisation about what emotional states are acceptable and which are discouraged.
But it goes beyond just setting an example. To craft an emotional culture where organisations thrive, leaders must take active steps to cultivate emotional awareness and emotional rituals that sustain positive emotions over time.
At the heart of leadership effectiveness is emotional intelligence (EQ). Leaders with high EQ are adept at recognizing their own emotions and those of others. They manage their emotional reactions, remain calm under pressure, and make decisions that reflect both logic and empathy. This kind of leadership is not only more human, but also more effective. It enables leaders to build trust, resolve conflicts, and create a shared emotional experience that aligns with the organisation’s goals.
Leadership effectiveness today demands more than just strategic thinking or technical skills. It requires emotional agility—the ability to navigate the emotional highs and lows of leadership and guide teams through uncertainty and change with emotional wisdom.
Fostering Emotional Culture: A Long-Term Commitment
Building an emotional culture where organisations can thrive is not a one-time initiative. It requires a long-term commitment to emotional awareness, continuous learning, and ongoing emotional alignment. Leaders must be willing to regularly check in on the emotional pulse of their teams and adapt their leadership approach as the emotional landscape shifts.
What I have found most rewarding in my work with organisations is watching leaders embrace the emotional aspects of their role. When they do, the change in the team’s energy is palpable—meetings become more productive, creativity flows, and relationships deepen. The organisation begins to thrive not just because of technical excellence, but because of the emotional connection that binds the team together.
By crafting an emotional culture where emotions are understood and strategically managed, leaders can unlock levels of engagement, innovation, and collaboration that propel the organisation forward.
As Daniel Goleman wisely stated, “In a very real sense, we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels.” Embracing emotional intelligence and fostering our emotional culture will enrich our organisations and also empower us to create workplaces where individuals and teams can truly thrive
