Here's how you can incorporate emotional intelligence into your leadership as a network engineer.

1 Understand EI

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage not only your own emotions but also those of others. In network engineering, where projects often require collaboration and clear communication, a leader with high EI can navigate through stressful situations by empathizing with team members and addressing concerns in a constructive manner. Start by assessing your emotional strengths and weaknesses. Reflect on how you react to deadlines, technical challenges, or team conflicts. Being aware of your emotional responses will help you to stay level-headed and make informed decisions that consider the well-being of your team.

2 Active Listening

Active listening is a crucial skill for any leader. It involves fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively 'hearing' the message of the speaker. For a network engineer leading a team, this means paying close attention to team members' ideas, concerns, and feedback. When you actively listen, you not only gain valuable insights into project challenges but also show respect for your colleagues' expertise and perspectives. This fosters a sense of trust and encourages open communication, which is essential for successful project outcomes and team cohesion.

3 Emotional Feedback

Providing feedback is a common task for leaders, but doing so with emotional intelligence can transform the impact of that feedback. As a network engineer, when you give feedback, focus on being specific, empathetic, and constructive. Avoid technical jargon that may confuse the issue and instead tailor your language to the recipient's level of understanding. Acknowledge the emotions involved in the situation, whether it's frustration with a network outage or pride in a successfully deployed system. This approach not only improves individual performance but also strengthens team morale.

4 Conflict Resolution

Conflict is inevitable in any team setting, and it's no different within network engineering projects. Handling conflict with emotional intelligence means approaching disagreements with a calm, collected mindset and striving for a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved. Encourage open dialogue where team members can express their views without fear of retribution. By mediating conflicts in this way, you can prevent escalation and maintain a positive working environment that promotes collaboration and innovation.

5 Empathetic Leadership

Empathy is at the heart of emotional intelligence. As a network engineering leader, showing empathy means understanding the personal and professional challenges your team members face. It's about offering support when they encounter difficulties, whether it's troubleshooting a complex network issue or balancing work-life pressures. By demonstrating empathy, you build stronger relationships with your team, which can lead to increased loyalty, better performance, and a more harmonious workplace.

6 Continuous Improvement

Emotional intelligence isn't a static trait; it's something that can be developed over time. Commit to continuous improvement by seeking feedback on your leadership style, attending workshops or training sessions, and staying up to date with the latest best practices in both network engineering and leadership. Encourage your team to also develop their emotional intelligence, creating a culture of growth and learning that benefits everyone involved. As you improve your EI, you'll find that leading becomes more about guiding your team to success rather than just managing them.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?