Leadership is emotional – but that doesn’t mean leaders should be emotional.
Leadership is emotional – but that doesn’t mean leaders should be emotional.
There’s a difference, and it’s a big one.
Leading with emotion means you’re leading from the heart. You’re connected to your purpose, your people, and the mission. You bring passion, conviction, and empathy into every interaction. Emotion fuels influence. It’s what allows your words to carry weight and your actions to inspire trust.
But leading emotionally means your emotions are leading you. Decisions get clouded. Reactions get impulsive. You say things you don’t mean or take actions you later regret. It’s like driving in a big ole’ snow storm… Your visibility drops, and you start steering based on how you feel instead of where you’re supposed to go.
The Difference Between Emotion and Emotional
Leading with emotion is strength under control. It’s using passion to connect, not control.
Leading emotionally is strength out of control. It’s when passion drives reaction instead of reflection.
When you lead with emotion, you can connect with people on a level that spreadsheets and KPIs never will. You can communicate vision in a way that makes people truly feel it, not just hear it.
When you lead emotionally, you swing between extremes – excitement one moment, frustration the next – and your team never knows which version of you they’re going to get that day!
Emotion builds culture. Emotional leadership confuses it.
Three Ways Leading Emotionally Gets You in Trouble
1) You make decisions out of reaction, not reflection.
When emotions run high, clarity runs low. Maybe you fire someone too quickly because you’re frustrated. Or you give a pay raise to an employee because you feel pressure in the moment. Emotional decisions often solve short-term discomfort but create long-term chaos.
2) You create instability in your team.
Emotional leaders are unpredictable. One day they’re fired up and encouraging; the next, they’re silent or sharp. Your people start managing your moods instead of managing their responsibilities. That’s absolutely exhausting and toxic over time.
3) You lose your credibility.
Every time you let emotions dictate your response, you chip away at trust. People stop believing your “calm in the storm” message when they see you become the storm. Consistency builds credibility – and emotional reactions destroy it.
Emotion: The Heartbeat of Leadership
Now, don’t mistake emotional control for emotional disconnection. Some of the greatest leaders I know lead with emotion – they feel deeply. Compassion, empathy, conviction, and passion are what make leadership personal and powerful.
When you lead with emotion, you:
- Care about your people’s growth, not just their performance.
- Fight for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular.
- Show up with consistency that earns trust.
- Communicate in ways that move hearts, not just minds.
Emotion gives your leadership a heartbeat. And it reminds people that you’re human, not robotic.
But discipline gives your leadership direction. It ensures your heart doesn’t drive you off course.
I’ll land the plane with this… Your team doesn’t need a perfect leader – they need a present one.
Lead with the fire that comes from passion and purpose, but keep that fire contained in wisdom and discipline.
Because a fire under control warms the room. But a fire out of control burns the place down.