AI & EI: The Heart of Modern Leadership

Using emotional intelligence to lead, sell, and serve in the age of AI

Why AI & EI Matter Now

Here’s a thought: The smartest person in the room isn’t the one who knows everything. It’s the one who knows how to stay human while using AI.

This subject has been on my heart and circling my mind for a while. In coaching, we talk about EI a lot and it seems that there may be a need to double down in this season for a variety of reasons. As we further embrace generative AI internally, it felt like now was the right time to open this conversation. Your thoughts are so very welcome and appreciated as we all walk through this journey of learning and growing together.

The Idea:

There’s no question, Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we communicate, sell, lead, and connect. As we become more efficient, it can be easy to lose touch with the emotional intelligence that makes us effective in the first place. If we rely too much on technology to think for us, we risk losing our ability to think through things emotionally, to empathize, pause, and lead with awareness.

Key Concepts:

Emotional intelligence can be developed.
Let’s understand this truth first. EI isn’t something you’re born with or without. It’s a set of skills you can strengthen through awareness and practice. It’s the ability to recognize emotions, manage reactions, understand others, and build real relationships. Travis Bradberry’s book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 reminds us that improvement is possible for everyone. Old dogs really can learn new tricks after all. That’s a pretty cool thing because it means we can all continue to grow and learn together, continue to foster the amazing culture we have at Fairway and relationships as we go.
There are four layers of EI.

In case you need the basics. Here are what the layers of EI we’re talking about. Daniel Goleman’s model gives us a roadmap for personal and professional growth:

Self-Awareness: noticing your emotions and understanding how they influence your actions.
Self-Management: staying composed and intentional even when emotions run high.
Social Awareness: recognizing what others are feeling and what they might need.
Relationship Management: using empathy and communication to build trust and influence.

Over the next four weeks, we’ll explore each of these layers together and practical ways to grow them while integrating AI into our daily work.

Here’s an idea: AI can help or hurt your emotional awareness.
Used wisely, AI can make us clearer communicators and faster thinkers. Used carelessly, it can dull our instincts and weaken our connection with others. The key is to use AI as a tool that enhances how we think and feel, not one that replaces it.
This is where two intelligences meet.
The future belongs to those who can combine the technical power of AI with the emotional depth of EI. The ones who can use smart tools without losing the human touch. Sticky-factor anyone?

Call to Action:
This week, notice where convenience has replaced connection. Is there a message, meeting, or relationship that could use more personal attention? Try slowing down, listening longer, or rewriting something in your own words before sending it. If you can, PICK UP THE PHONE. See how it feels to lead with a little more presence.

Want to read or learn more? Check out these resources: