The importance of improving our individual Emotional Intelligence has gained a lot of momentum in recent years.
However, it is also important to improve the Emotional Intelligence of our teams!
Most leaders try to build a first-rate team by bringing together a group of first-rate people. But as a recent Harvard Business Review article points out, a collection of “virtuosos doesn’t usually make a virtuosic team.” In fact, even highly talented individuals can struggle and become demotivated. This is often because they lack team emotional intelligence (Team EI).
Team EI is a set of intentional routines or norms that meet the core social needs of team members. These needs include feeling genuinely accepted, valued, and having a sense of influence and agency. When these needs are met, a team builds a productive emotional environment that includes trust and psychological safety.
Here’s how to assess, address, and improve your team’s emotional intelligence.
Assess Your Team Emotional Intelligence. The first step is to understand your team’s current baseline. Do a quick assessment where you and your team members rate how well the team is doing in three key areas, which are the top norms for meeting social needs.
- Understanding each other better: This norm is about making an effort to know one another’s needs, talents, and skills. It also includes routinely giving feedback that helps members grow and feel respected.
- Routinely assessing strengths and opportunities: This involves regularly assessing the team’s effectiveness, anticipating problems, and taking quick action when issues arise.
- Routinely talking to stakeholders: This means actively building relationships with key stakeholders, including internal groups and customers, to gain valuable information and visibility.
The assessment then helps you see what gaps you have and where you need to improve. Discuss and agree on new norms that you want to follow moving forward. This will be awkward at first. But stay persistent at reviewing your progress at every team meeting.
Your new norms will help to create a more collaborative and productive environment. This will build team emotional intelligence and help your team and its members thrive – no matter what challenges they face. Together, you will make even more of a Mission Impact.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Druskat, V. U. “Do You Have an Emotionally Intelligent Team?” Harvard Business Review online, August 11, 2025.
