🌱 Emotional Intelligence & AI: Reading the Team’s Temperature This Spring
As Spring blooms here in Australia, I’ve been thinking about how leadership mirrors nurturing a garden. Just like plants, teams need the right environment to thrive—more sunlight, richer soil, or the perfect amount of water, depending on what they need.
🌿 The challenge? These conditions aren’t always obvious. In my experience, if you overdo it with “fertilizer” (think too much pressure or micromanagement), you can stunt growth. Forget to “water” (neglect engagement), and you risk losing momentum. A good leader, like a seasoned gardener, blends intuitive knowledge with smart tools to find the right balance for growth.
🌼 This is where AI steps in. AI acts like the smart sensors in your leadership toolkit, offering real-time insights into how your team is “growing.” Whether someone’s starting to disengage or a project is creating burnout, AI tools like sentiment analysis help you spot these signs early, so you can take action and create the conditions your team needs to thrive.
🛠 A Practical Example
Think of AI as your "team monitor."
💬 Imagine using AI to analyze team communications—whether it's Slack messages, emails, or meeting feedback—to detect shifts in tone, frustration, or disengagement. These insights enable you to step in early, whether it’s scheduling a check-in, adjusting workloads, or offering support to help your team “bloom” again.
📊 Tools like Salesforce’s Einstein Call Coaching go even further, analyzing sales calls for emotional cues and sentiment, giving you actionable insights to coach your team on communication and empathy. It’s like providing the right nutrients for your team, helping them grow and perform at their best.
💡 AI can help individuals get a better sense of their own emotional well-being. Tools like the new Microsoft Teams Presenter Coach offer real-time feedback on how you’re coming across in virtual meetings. By analyzing factors like tone, pace, and energy levels, AI helps you refine your communication style, making sure you’re engaging and empathetic with your audience. This personal feedback loop can be a powerful tool in enhancing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Albeit, I did find this tool a little intimidating and distracting when I first started using it!
🌟 Next Steps to Nurture Your Team
🔍 Explore Sentiment Analysis Tools: Platforms like Glint or CultureAmp are your leadership “gardening tools,” helping you understand your team’s environment. Use them to spot emerging issues early and make proactive adjustments.
🌻 Foster Psychological Safety: AI can identify disengagement, but it’s your role to create an environment where people feel safe expressing concerns. Pair AI insights with genuine empathy and connection to build a culture of trust and openness.
