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As I sat down to write about the amazing power of emotional intelligence and the importance of communication, I found myself reflecting on my own journey and the valuable lessons I’ve learned, especially in my current leadership role. If there’s one takeaway from my experience, it’s that leadership is all about being genuine, personal engagement, and meaningful!

Leadership, in any organization, is so much more than just managing resources or driving results – it’s about understanding people and managing the emotions of others… but likewise acquiescent of ourselves and our own emotions and being open to them.

Let’s be real: being a leader is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an enriching experience, filled with everyday life challenges. If properly managed, these challenges will contribute greatly to the personal development of each person who works with you. If you can get through rush hour in traffic without losing your cool, you’re already halfway to mastering emotional intelligence. But emotional intelligence in leadership goes beyond just staying calm when someone cuts you off without a turn signal. It’s about navigating the twists and turns of relationships at work with the same finesse you need to manoeuvre through city traffic – patient, observant, communicative and with just the right amount of honking (aka assertiveness). When it comes to emotional intelligence, coping with traffic, even in Maputo, becomes less about controlling the external situation and more about managing your internal responses.

Managing Emotions (Or, How to Avoid Becoming “That” Boss)

Mozambican culture is warm, sociable, and full of emotion. They can be expressive, whether it’s a hearty laugh or a frustrated sigh. But as a leader, learning how to manage these emotions is key. Nobody wants to be the boss who has a meltdown over an overdue report like it’s the end of the world or the boos of a disengaged team. Think of emotional intelligence as the art of reading the room – whether it’s the boardroom or your office during the Friday afternoon slump. If one of your team members has the same look on their face as someone who has just found out the price of the chapa ride (a very common form of transport in Mozambique, they are vans with defined routes and unspecified number of passengers) has doubled again, maybe it’s time for a motivational chat instead of a scolding. Before you react to a situation, ask yourself: “Would I handle this the same way if I were stuck in Maputo traffic right now?” If the answer is “No, because I’d be losing it!” then it’s time to take a breath, smile, and approach things differently.

Self-Regulation (Or, How to Keep Your Cool When Everyone Else is Losing It)

If you’ve ever tried to negotiate with a bureaucratic office, you know how hard it is to keep your cool. As a leader, managing your emotions can often feel like navigating a never-ending queue (ever stood in line at the ATM on payday?). Patience, dear reader, is key. Self-regulation is the ability to handle that urge to blow up when things don’t go your way. It’s about keeping your composure, even when someone shows up to a meeting 30 minutes late and says “Desculpa, chefe, muito trânsito na cidade.” You know that losing your cool doesn’t solve the problem – it just turns a small hiccup into a giant headache. The next time you feel the pressure building up like a summer storm over Inhambane, take a deep breath, think of the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, and deal with the situation with grace and control – this sets the tone for you and the rest, ensuring all remain calm and composed in an environment conducive to fruitful discussions, even during challenging conversations.

Empathy (Or, The Secret Superpower to Winning Hearts (and Avoiding Drama))

Let’s face it – everyone has challenges, from the street market vendor worried about the vendavais (very strong winds) that, time and time again without permission, keep blowing away his stock and livelihood for the month, to your team member stressed about meeting a tight deadline. Empathy allows you to connect with your team on a human level. A loud and magnetic voice may work very for a fish seller in the fish market in Maputo, but very rarely, if ever, in a work environment. Try understanding what’s going on behind the scenes. Sometimes, the most productive conversations take place over a pão com chá (bread and tea) while you really listen and speak with care. Empathy doesn’t mean being soft or letting standards slide. It means understanding where your people are coming from and helping them rise to the occasion. Have thoughtful approaches to issues, a transparent and honest conversation, be measured in your responses and stay calm. Bonus points if you can even throw in a joke. After all, if we practice ubuntu and our shared humanity, we can encourage more empathy and open dialogues.

Communication (When Emotions Are Hotter than Piri-Piri)

Be truthful – emotions at work can flare up as unpredictably as a power outage in the middle of a busy day: inconvenient, unpredictable, but totally part of life. And guess what? Just as we can’t control when the lights will go out, we also can’t control when someone’s going to get frustrated over their pay cheque or feel unappreciated after staying late to close those endless reports. Things are heating up faster than a chicken marinated in piri-piri, and you need to cool it down. But here’s where emotional intelligence swoops in like a superhero – except instead of a cape, it’s wrapped in… virtuous communication skills. It’s communication – both verbal and non-verbal – that serves as the conduit for expressing emotional intelligence. It is a process of creating shared meaning. You understand that the words you choose, its tone, and even your body language can deeply affect how messages are received. Communicate effectively – it is a two-way street. If you’re the only one doing the talking, it’s like driving on the wrong side of the road.

For example, when New Zealand faced the tragic Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern led the nation through shock, fear, and grief with empathetic communication and calm response to the tragedy. She visited the Muslim community, wore a hijab as a sign of solidarity, and communicated her deep sorrow while also providing a sense of stability and strength. Through her actions and words, she conveyed unity and resilience, helping New Zealand navigate through an incredibly difficult time.

Social Skills (Or, How to Charm a Room Like You’re at a Mozambican Wedding)

Mozambican weddings are a masterclass in emotional intelligence. You’ve got everyone, from the distant friend who invited himself, to the cousin who won’t stop dancing, to the third-degree uncle who insists on giving a speech (and he’s not even part of the ceremony). Navigating these social dynamics with a smile, a handshake, and a well-timed joke is the essence of emotional intelligence. Building relationships, resolving conflicts, and motivating your team is all about using those social skills. Emotional intelligence isn’t about being the most charismatic person in the room. It’s about being the person who brings people together, makes everyone feel heard, and creates a space where even the quietest team member feels confident enough to share an idea. Think of yourself as the MC at a wedding – your job is to keep the energy up and the people happy!

Motivation (Or, No Matapa Without Amendoim)

We all know you can’t make a great matapa without amendoim (peanuts). Similarly, a team without motivation is just a bland pot of spinach – lacking flavour and substance. Motivating a team can sometimes feel like trying to persuade your family to leave the beach early on a holiday. Maybe people are grumbling about their performance review, or they feel like their work is going unnoticed. It’s time for some seasoning. Each of your team members is unique. Some can be innovative, creative, and resilient, while others at times seem demoralised or disbelieving. But it’s vital to identify and play to their strengths and unlock the best qualities each team member brings to the table. Co-create a shared vision that the team believes in – not just in terms of goals, but in how their work improves their lives, their families, and their communities. Help them see the bigger picture. Motivation is not about offering more money or endless perks (although chá e natas (tea and custard tarts) are always a winner). It’s about making people feel like they belong and that what they do matters.

Take Elon Musk as an example. Even when early SpaceX rocket launches failed, Musk consistently communicated his belief in his team’s ability to overcome challenges, even when the odds were stacked against success. His clear, purpose-driven communication motivated his team to persevere through obstacles, on the edge of total failure, until they succeeded.

Conclusion: The Way to Lead with Emotional Intelligence

Leadership requires a unique blend of (lots of) patience, empathy, humour, and (ample) adaptability. Whether it’s managing emotions in chaotic environments, building trust with your team, or leading by example, emotional intelligence is the ingredient – and it is not an optional leadership skill anymore. But emotional intelligence is like the perfect peça de capulana (piece of cloth, a type of a sarong worn primarily in Mozambique): it’s colourful, adaptable, and makes everything better. But without the right communication to tie it together, it’s just fabric. So next time, put up the good words and elect your true stance, but remain honest, to turn the situation from “uh-oh” to “aha!”.