The theme of this year’s International Women's Day, 'Accelerate Action' is a powerful call. It urges us to take swift, decisive steps towards gender equality, addressing the systemic barriers women face. 

Thinking about 'Accelerate' and 'Action,' I realized: 

Accelerate means increasing speed or velocity—starting from a standstill requires far more effort than building momentum. In the context of leadership, this means overcoming the forces that resist change. What are those forces? Obstacles like rigid policies, misaligned values, or overly complex processes can act as roadblocks. Micromanagement and lack of clarity create rough terrain, while a lack of vision, communication breakdowns, or an inability to inspire teams leads to an unclear destination. And Action means doing something to achieve a goal. In leadership, it's translating vision into tactical steps for your team, bridging ideas and results. 

Knowing these definitions, the question becomes: 

How do we clear the obstacles that hinder acceleration and effectively put action into motion? 

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a key part of the answer. As Dr. Gary Latham wisely states, EQ isn't just your ability to read others; it is your ability to read yourself. This includes:

• Self-awareness: Recognizing your strengths and blind spots, fostering curiosity and learning.

• Social perception: Understanding unspoken cues and non-verbal communication.

• Emotion understanding: Grasping your own and others' feelings, anticipating reactions.

• Emotion regulation: Maintaining composure, responding thoughtfully, even in high-pressure situations.

Imagine a team member presents a confusing idea. With EQ, you respond with calm curiosity, seeking to understand their perspective. This allows you to guide the team towards meaningful action.

Fortunately, EQ is a learned skill, not innate. It goes beyond empathy, encompassing a holistic understanding of how emotions intertwine with our mind, body, and spirit.

In my experience, effective leadership begins with EQ. It sparks curiosity, deepens understanding, and drives action, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and progress. On this International Women's Day, let's commit to accelerating action by fostering environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered, breaking free from vicious cycles that hinder progress and hold us back.