When Daniel Goleman introduced the concept of emotional intelligence (EI), he showed us that leadership is more than just making strategic decisions. It’s about understanding and managing your own emotions and those of others. And there’s no better place to practice this than on the golf course.
Golf, like leadership, requires emotional resilience. You’re constantly faced with setbacks—whether it’s landing in a bunker or missing a crucial putt. But how you respond in these moments reveals a lot about your leadership style. During our executive coaching sessions on the course, I help leaders become more aware of their emotional triggers and how they can manage them effectively.
The beauty of golf is that every round offers the chance to test and develop emotional intelligence in real-time. When a leader can handle the frustration of a bad shot with grace, it translates to handling business pressures with the same level of composure.
Emotional intelligence, I believe, is the cornerstone of effective leadership, and golf offers a unique training ground to cultivate it.
