How Brands Can Nurture and Develop Emotional Intelligence (and Why It Matters) Emotional intelligence has long been discussed as a critical component of leadership. The ability to regulate your own emotions — as well as the emotions of others' — has proven invaluable on an individual level. Consider, for instance, the supreme importance of having a boss who doesn't cry or yell every time a meeting doesn't go her way. Alternatively, think about how important it is to have a leader who encourages positive, effective conflict resolution between teams when misalignment or miscommunication occurs. All of which is to say: emotional intelligence matters. But Kristin Harper, CEO of Driven to Succeed and author of The Heart of a Leader: 52 Emotional Intelligence Insights to Advance Your Career, takes it one step further, arguing that emotional intelligence can (and should) be fostered by brands, not just individuals. Here, let's dive into how you can nurture and develop emotional intelligence for your brand as a whole — and why it matters in the first place. 1. How can brands nurture and develop emotional intelligence? Let's start first with the definition of emotional intelligence for individuals, which is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. EI is a combination of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. For brands, I define EI using four pillars: Brand Consciousness: Defining the brand identity including its attributes, values, heritage, tone of...