As an interim IT leader, I’ve learned more from people than processes. Technology changes. Tools come and go. But how you show up under pressure, in conflict, or at a crossroads? That stays.
Here are eight ways I’ve sharpened my emotional intelligence in the field. No management-book theory. Just practice—including falling down, getting back up, and a few insights I’d like to share.
1. Ask for the raw truth 🧨
📅 2018—government institution
I asked my team: “What should I do differently?” Silence. Then one brave colleague: “You’re sometimes too fast for us. We’re always playing catch-up.”
Ouch. But afterward, I learned to slow down my communication. Less sprint, more peloton. The impact? People took ownership. Because they had room.
2. Small promises, big impact 📦
📅 2021—IT service provider
I saw people promise things they couldn’t deliver. Beautiful talk, mediocre execution. I decided to do things differently. I simply said: “I’ll solve this issue before 10 a.m. tomorrow.” At 9:47, it was solved. Once is enough to build trust.
3. Pressure is fuel, not a barrier 🔥
📅 2017—government migration project
Saturday night. SQL cluster crash. Everyone panicking. I took a deep breath, made coffee, and asked: “What’s the next small step we can take right now?”
Within an hour, calm returned. Calm is contagious. Leadership shows most clearly when things get tense.
4. Set boundaries with style 🛑
📅 2008—fast-growing startup
“Can you set up a new environment tonight?” I said: “Not today. It’ll be ready tomorrow at 9 a.m. With monitoring.” Friendly but clear. And my credibility grew.
5. Listen like a detective 🕵️
📅 2021—airline project
Two engineers, one major conflict. I said: “Tell me: what do you think the other person was trying to say?” They stopped. Thought. And began reframing from empathy.
The argument melted away. Active reflection is magic in high-conflict environments.
6. Show your human side 💬
📅 2025—scale-up in the pet industry
During my first week, I said in a meeting: “My brain isn’t working today. Too much coffee, new impressions, and too little sleep. Can we talk about this in a bit?”
Laughter. Understanding. Simple. Powerful. Authenticity opens doors.
7. Choose where your energy goes 🎯
📅 2022—strategy meeting at a transportation company
A manager went off about an incorrect Excel sheet. The old me would immediately have become defensive. Now, I thought: His frustration belongs to him, not me. So I asked one calm question: “What’s the risk if we don’t solve this today?”
Drama became a conversation about impact. Calm works.
8. Growth isn’t optional. It’s a responsibility 🚀
📅 2022—reflection after a personal crisis
After my divorce, I looked at myself. The mistakes, the patterns, the blind spots. I sought help. Started coaching. Learned more about relationships, leadership, and… myself. Owning your mistakes is strength. Fixing them faster is leadership.
🔚 A closing thought
In a changing world, emotional intelligence is your superpower. It determines how you deal with yourself and others, especially under pressure.
💡 Hiring for experience is outdated. Almost everything in a job can be learned. But attitude and passion? You can’t fake those. Honestly? That’s how I get all my work.
📣 I’d rather have an engaged doer than an experienced doubter.
So which of these eight power moves will you try with your team tomorrow?
👇 Drop it in the comments—I’m curious about your journey.
#Leadership #EQ #ITManagement #EmotioneleIntelligentie #Leiderschap #Mindset #SoftSkills #LinkedInLearning #Werkgeluk #GrowWithMe
Originally published on LinkedIn. View all blog posts.