Ayaskant Sarangi, Chief Human Resource Officer – Mphasis Limited.
In 1995, psychologist Daniel Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence (EI), ultimately reshaping our understanding of success. He discussed emotional awareness—the ability to navigate one’s feelings and understand others’ emotions—as the hallmark of effective leadership and collaboration.
Since then, studies have continued to identify emotional intelligence as one of the most critical skills in today’s workplace. Empathetic leaders foster loyalty, engagement and creativity because they create an environment where teams feel equipped to navigate the complexities of modern work. This is profoundly relevant for hybrid workplaces, where physical separation often complicates communication. While people’s fundamental need to feel valued, heard and supported hasn’t changed, the way we meet that need has.
Tools like video calls and messaging apps help keep teams connected digitally, but they don’t have the acumen to replicate the richness of in-person communication. So, the emotional cues that were easy to pick up in face-to-face interactions now require more attention. As leaders, we must adapt by tuning into subtler signals, whether it’s a change of tone in an email or visible disengagement on a video call. Emotional awareness bridges this gap, enabling us to connect meaningfully with our teams, even from a distance.
Strengthening Connection With Psychological Safety
Creating a sense of psychological safety, where your employees feel confident sharing ideas, expressing concerns and taking risks, is crucial for effective collaboration. A workplace where employees feel their voices matter builds trust and deepens commitment. This principle applies to any workplace, but managing a hybrid team emphasizes its importance.
Without a shared physical space, gaps in connection can emerge and intensify. So, cultivating psychological safety within a hybrid team requires intentional effort. For example, to encourage dialogue, begin treating mistakes as opportunities to learn, rather than failures to punish. Because spontaneous conversations are harder in a hybrid environment, actively create spaces for honest discussions. Virtual open-door policies and regular check-ins signal that your support is readily available. When team members know they can approach you without hesitation, morale and engagement naturally improve.
Practicing Self-Awareness
Before you can connect with others effectively, you must have a firm understanding of yourself. Self-awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence because it helps you recognize and regulate your emotions. This ensures any personal challenge you experience doesn’t impact the broader team. Without the benefit of visual cues, however, misunderstandings can arise more easily. Practicing self-awareness will allow you to maintain a sense of steadiness as a leader.
Begin with self-awareness strategies like learning your own stress triggers and communicating with clear, empathetic intention during high-pressure situations. Develop your ability to listen, observe and respond thoughtfully to others. By combining this introspection with genuine curiosity about your team, you foster a culture of respect, alignment, purpose and belonging.
Enhancing Resilience
When you show resilience in the face of challenges, you’re demonstrating emotional intelligence and a willingness to reflect and recalibrate. When something goes wrong, like an idea not landing, instead of wasting time on criticism, you view the experience as a learning opportunity.
The key is asking precise questions, such as “What occurred?,” “What can I learn?” and “How will I do things differently next time?” This allows you to break down the experience, extract its lessons and apply them in the future. That willingness to step back, learn and adjust is where real growth begins. This isn’t about positive thinking. It’s about clear, pragmatic analysis of what works and what doesn’t.
To me, self-awareness and resilience often go hand in hand. It’s important to recognize that they’re both ongoing practices—not qualities you master in a single effort. Some of my most defining leadership moments have happened when I was managing sensitive, high-stakes work while also navigating challenges at home. These kinds of moments teach you a lot about your limits, your ability to prioritize and the importance of communicating openly. You learn that resilience isn’t about powering through—it’s about staying flexible and focusing on what matters most.
Establishing A New Leadership Standard
Success in the working world requires more than strategic thinking. It takes connection, inspiration and empathy. Emotional intelligence is no longer a nice-to-have skill. It’s the defining characteristic of leaders who thrive.
To create environments where team members feel seen, respected and empowered, we must recognize that everyone brings unique experiences and challenges. With the complexities of a hybrid environment, it means navigating communication with clarity and compassion.
When you prioritize these principles, you help build an organization where people and performance go hand in hand. Trust flourishes, innovation thrives and teams achieve more together than they ever could apart. Emotional intelligence is your leadership advantage that will make a difference.
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