By: Seraphina Quinn
Technical skills and strategic thinking are essential for outstanding leadership, but emotional intelligence has also been gaining a lot of attention lately. To understand why it’s such a crucial element of high-performance leadership, let’s explore the insights of Kenton Epard, the mind behind The Nexus Initiative.
Epard’s journey to becoming a thought leader in emotional intelligence is as diverse as it is impressive. From his roots in a family farming business in Kansas to his experiences in Silicon Valley’s tech boom and co-founding a successful wind energy company, Epard has seen firsthand the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in leadership success.
“Emotional intelligence isn’t just a buzzword,” Epard explains. “It’s about really understanding how you impact the people around you. When you interact with your team, do they leave feeling energized and ready to take on challenges? Or do they feel deflated and disengaged?”
For Epard, this awareness is what separates good leaders from great ones. It’s not just about making smart decisions; it’s about creating an environment where everyone can bring their finest selves to work.
“Here’s the thing,” he says, “if you don’t make people feel valued, they’re not going to go above and beyond for you. It’s as simple as that. Emotional intelligence is about leaving people better off than when you found them – more engaged, motivated, and ready to tackle whatever challenges come their way.”
But how does one put this into practice in the real world? That’s where Epard’s “Nexus Thinking™” comes in. It’s all about finding that spot between logical, left-brain thinking and creative, emotionally intelligent right-brain stuff.
“High-performance leadership doesn’t just happen by accident,” Epard emphasizes. “You’ve got to actively work on integrating both sides of your brain. And yes, some data-driven folks might raise an eyebrow at this, but a lot of research is backing it up.”
Epard’s approach goes beyond theory. His coaching covers the nitty-gritty of applying these concepts in real-world situations. Drawing from his three decades of experience across various industries, he helps leaders bridge that gap between understanding emotional intelligence and putting it into practice.
One key aspect Epard stresses is creating what he calls “psychological safety” within teams. “Do team members feel like they can speak up without fear of negative consequences?” he asks. This kind of environment, where people feel safe sharing ideas and even making mistakes, is crucial for innovation and problem-solving.
And the payoff? It’s significant. Research shows that high emotional intelligence leads to more engaged employees, innovation, and higher job satisfaction. In today’s competitive business world, that can be the difference between a company just getting by and one thriving.
Epard’s commitment to spreading this knowledge goes beyond individual coaching. He’s launched initiatives like Hardless™, which looks at innovative ways to simplify life’s challenges, and KnowledgeNexus™, a free online hub packed with over 350 personal performance-related terms. It’s all part of his mission to make emotional intelligence accessible to everyone.
The key takeaway from Epard’s work? Mastering emotional intelligence isn’t just a nice-to-have for leaders – it’s absolutely crucial for high-performance leadership in today’s business world. By developing emotional intelligence, leaders can create more engaged teams, foster innovation, and ultimately drive better business results.
As Epard puts it, “Emotional intelligence is the secret sauce of inspirational leadership. It’s what allows you to create an environment where people feel safe to innovate and push boundaries.”
In the end, as leaders navigate the complexities of the business world, emotional intelligence might just be the key to unlocking their full potential. And who knows? It might make the leadership journey a whole lot more rewarding too.
Published by: Khy Talara
