This module reframed emotional intelligence from a soft skill to a core leadership discipline for me. Goleman's argument that mental intelligence, determination, and toughness are necessary but not sufficient for leadership hit home — I have seen plenty of talented people unravel under pressure because they could not manage their own emotions or read the emotions of others. His five components — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills — give me a clear map for diagnosing my own growth edges. The empathy section especially resonated. Listening with my eyes, my ears, and my heart is a posture I want to carry more consistently into every interaction with students, faculty, and staff at the Early College Center. In education, where we constantly meet people in seasons of stress, transition, and vulnerability, empathy is not optional — it is the foundation of trust. Going forward, I want to treat emotional intelligence as something I actively build, not something I assume I have. That means slowing down to notice my own reactions, staying calm when news of change lands, and leading with the kind of genuine care that helps others feel seen.
With Benevolence, Shannon
