Take the Include–Performance Emotional Intelligence Leadership Self-Assessment™

What is included in the assessment

The assessment explores six key areas:

• Emotional intelligence in conversations

• Emotional intelligence in accountability

• Emotional intelligence in decision-making

• Emotional intelligence and inclusion

• Emotional intelligence and performance

• Emotional intelligence under pressure

Each section focuses on real leadership behaviours, not abstract theory.

The aim is to help you notice where your emotional intelligence supports effective leadership, where it may be getting in the way of clarity or action, and what could help you move forward.

Why take this emotional intelligence test?

Many leaders already understand emotional intelligence. The challenge is applying it when situations are complex, emotions are present and something still needs to happen.

You may recognise some of these:

• You understand people, but difficult conversations are delayed

• You show empathy, but performance issues repeat

• You know what needs to happen, but action feels unclear

• You want to be inclusive, but are unsure how this shows up in decisions

• You find yourself stuck between maintaining relationships and addressing what needs attention

• You want to have more influence without becoming more forceful

• You want greater confidence in how you respond when pressure rises

• You want your leadership to have greater impact on people and performance

This emotional intelligence self-assessment can help you identify:

• how your emotional intelligence shows up in practice

• where it supports performance

• where it may limit clarity or action

• what to do next

• where greater confidence or competence could help

• where changing your approach could increase your influence and impact

What makes this emotional intelligence assessment different?

Most emotional intelligence quizzes focus on: self-awareness, empathy and emotional regulation

This assessment goes further.

It brings together:

• Emotional intelligence; how you notice and respond

• Leadership practice; how you communicate and act

• Inclusion; how leadership is experienced by others

• Performance; whether your leadership helps people and work move forward

• Context; recognising that the most effective response can depend on the people, relationships and situation involved

This reflects research showing that leadership effectiveness is shaped by the interaction between individual behaviour, relationships and organisational systems.

Emotional intelligence can help you understand what is happening. Effective leadership also involves deciding what to do with that understanding.

Why emotional intelligence matters at work

Emotional intelligence is important because leadership is not only about tasks and outcomes. It is also about how people experience work. Research suggests that emotionally intelligent leadership is associated with stronger workplace relationships, communication, engagement and leadership outcomes.

However, emotional intelligence is most useful when it is connected to:

• clear expectations

• inclusive decision-making

• consistent accountability

• the confidence to address difficult issues

• the competence to respond differently when the situation requires it

• the ability to balance relationships with performance

What emotional intelligence can look like in leadership

In practice, emotional intelligence in leadership can look like:

• addressing a performance issue clearly while maintaining respect

• recognising emotional dynamics in a team and responding intentionally

• including different perspectives in decision-making

• managing conflict without avoiding it

• balancing empathy with accountability

• knowing when listening is needed and when a decision is needed

• recognising when your own emotional response is influencing the situation

• adapting how you communicate without losing clarity

• helping people move forward when a team or relationship feels stuck

What you could learn

By completing the Emotional Intelligence Leadership Self-Assessment™, you could gain greater insight into:

• your emotional intelligence at work

• your leadership communication patterns

• how you approach accountability and feedback

• how inclusion shows up in your leadership

• how your behaviour influences team performance

• where you may be avoiding action or over-relying on empathy

• where you could strengthen your confidence and competence

• what could help you get unstuck

• how you could increase your influence and impact

This assessment could be useful if…

You lead people and want to understand why some situations feel harder than others.

You want to handle difficult conversations with more confidence.

You are good at understanding people but sometimes struggle to turn that understanding into action.

You want to balance empathy and accountability more effectively.

You want greater influence without relying on authority alone.

You want to strengthen your impact on communication, relationships and performance.

You work in HR, L&D, OD or DEI and support leaders navigating complex people situations.

Can emotional intelligence be developed?

Research suggests that emotional intelligence can develop through reflection, feedback, practice in real situations, coaching and applied learning. That is why this assessment focuses on behaviour and application rather than simply testing what you know. The purpose is not to give you a fixed label. It is to give you another way of noticing what you do, understanding its impact and deciding what could be most effective next.

Start with how your emotional intelligence shows up now

You do not need to become less empathetic, more forceful or a different kind of leader. The starting point is understanding how you currently respond and where greater choice could help you lead with more confidence, competence, influence and impact. Complete the free Emotional Intelligence Leadership Self-Assessment™ and use your results as a starting point for reflection and development.

What happens next?

You will receive immediate access to the assessment so you can explore how your emotional intelligence shows up across conversations, accountability, decision-making, inclusion, performance and pressure.

We will also share Leadership Letters and occasional relevant ELIS resources to help you continue developing your confidence, competence, influence and impact.

The aim is not more leadership advice. It is to help you understand what is happening, get unstuck and make more conscious choices about what the situation needs from you.

FAQ

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand and respond to emotions in yourself and others.

What is emotional intelligence in leadership?

Emotional intelligence in leadership refers to how leaders use emotional awareness, empathy and judgement in communication, decision-making and managing people.

Why is emotional intelligence important at work?

It can support communication, engagement, inclusion and performance by influencing how people interact, make decisions and respond to challenges.

What is an emotional intelligence test?

An emotional intelligence test is a tool used to explore how individuals recognise, understand and respond to emotions. This assessment focuses specifically on how emotional intelligence shows up in leadership practice.

How can I improve emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence can develop through reflection, feedback, coaching and applying learning in real workplace situations.

Can emotional intelligence help me become a more confident leader?

It can help by increasing your awareness of how you respond to people and situations, giving you more options when conversations, relationships or decisions become difficult. Confidence can grow when you understand both what you are noticing and what you can do with that information.

Can emotional intelligence increase my influence?

Influence is not only about authority. Understanding emotions, relationships and context can help you communicate more effectively, adapt your approach and make choices that others can understand and engage with.