When Logic Wasn’t Enough: Emotional Intelligence in Action

The Scene:

It was a bright Thursday afternoon at Meridian Financial, and Layla felt optimistic. Her recent proposal had earned the firm a lucrative client, and today’s meeting was meant to outline next steps. But as her colleagues filed into the conference room, she noticed their energy was off—something felt unusually strained.

“Let’s dive straight in,” she began briskly, opening her notes. Her logic was flawless, the data precise, and the strategy clear. Yet, after a few moments, she looked up to see faces drawn, eyes distant. Amir, usually her strongest supporter, fiddled restlessly with his pen. Sara, her project manager, stared blankly at the slides.

Frustrated, Layla pressed forward. “We’ve got a tight timeline—let’s keep the momentum.” She felt her own anxiety rising, mirroring the room’s growing disconnect.

The meeting ended abruptly, and everyone scattered quietly, leaving Layla perplexed and disappointed.

The Reflection:

Later, as Layla sat quietly at her desk, Amir knocked gently on her door. He asked softly, “Do you know why everyone was off today?”

Layla sighed, shaking her head. “Honestly, I have no idea.”

“It’s not about the plan, Layla—it’s about Ali. He just learned he didn’t get the promotion, and everyone’s feeling unsettled.”

Layla closed her eyes, realizing her mistake. She had completely missed the emotional current running beneath the meeting. Her logic had been impeccable, but her empathy had been absent.

The next day, Layla gathered her team again. She paused, took a breath, and looked sincerely at Ali. “I didn’t acknowledge something important yesterday. I’m sorry. Ali, how are you feeling?”

Ali spoke openly, sharing his disappointment. Slowly, tension eased, understanding replaced discomfort, and the team reconnected.

The Lesson:

Emotional Intelligence isn’t a distraction from logic—it’s the foundation on which effective teams thrive. Leadership demands awareness of the emotional climate and clarity in strategy.

Practical Tips to Apply Emotional Intelligence:

• Regularly ask yourself, “How might people feel about this?”
• Make it safe for colleagues to express emotions openly.
• Acknowledge emotions explicitly—don’t assume silence means agreement.
• Combine empathy with strategy to build genuine buy-in.
• Recognize and validate team emotions first, solutions second

The EQ Response Model™