Primal Leadership summary

What does it take to be a great leader? People might say it’s about having a clear goal, strong plans, and fresh ideas. But great leadership isn’t just about what a leader does – it’s also about how they do it.

In fact, Primal Leadership suggests that emotional intelligence is the most vital part of being an excellent leader. Leaders who are deeply attuned to emotions can inspire their teams by understanding – and speaking to – the things that make them tick. 

And that’s exactly what we’re going to explore in this very short Blink.

In some ways, leading people is like making music. When a leader positively affects a group’s emotions, they’re leading with resonance; if a leader uses negativity to undermine the group’s emotional foundations, they’re creating dissonance. 

So, how do you become a resonant leader? There are four domains of emotional intelligence you need to master.

The first domain is self-awareness. While the ability to be self-aware is often neglected in business settings, it’s arguably the most important factor of good leadership. If a leader can’t understand and manage their own emotions, how can they expect to understand the emotions of others? Also, a leader who’s attuned to their inner signals can recognize a feeling like anger or resentment, and work through it constructively before it crescendos into an outburst.

Flowing directly from self-awareness comes the domain of self-management, which encompasses the focus and drive that all great leaders need to achieve their goals. This domain acts as a constant inner dialogue that keeps leaders moving in the right direction.

The key to the third domain – social awareness – is practicing empathy. By paying close attention to how others are feeling, a leader can say exactly what’s needed in the moment and act appropriately for each situation. Resonant leaders are able to convey their feelings honestly, in a way that propels their reports toward positive action.

The first three domains come together to support the fourth – relationship management. This domain comprises some of the skills most commonly associated with leadership, including collaboration, conflict management, and persuasion.

Your ability to effectively manage relationships boils down to how well you can embrace other people’s feelings, act with empathy, and become aware of your own emotions. This is where you, as a leader, truly get to put your primal leadership skills to the test.