7 Emotional Intelligence Habits That Will Instantly Boost Your Team’s Performance

Practical Steps for Turning Emotional Awareness into Team Results

What if you could transform your team’s results with a few simple habits? According to Anthony Mersino and a growing body of research, emotional intelligence is the lever that lifts team performance from average to outstanding. Here are seven habits to help you get there:

1. Start with Self-Reflection: Spend five minutes each morning checking in with your emotions. This simple habit helps you notice stress or anxiety before it spills over into your team interactions.
2. Hold Daily Emotional Check-Ins: Begin meetings with a quick round where everyone shares how they’re feeling. This builds psychological safety and helps you spot issues early.
3. Practice Active Listening: Put away distractions, make eye contact, and reflect back what you hear. Teams that feel heard are more engaged and willing to contribute.
4. Use Conflict Resolution Rituals: When disagreements arise, guide the team through structured conversations focused on understanding, not winning. This turns conflict into a source of innovation.
5. Model Calm Under Pressure: In moments of crisis, take a deep breath, speak slowly, and acknowledge the team’s feelings. Your calm presence sets the tone for everyone else.
6. Celebrate Wins and Progress: Recognize both big achievements and small steps forward. Gratitude boosts morale and keeps motivation high.
7. Seek and Give Feedback Regularly: Make feedback a two-way street. Ask for input on your own leadership and offer constructive feedback to help others grow.

Each of these habits is easy to implement—and together, they create a culture of trust, resilience, and high performance. Teams led by emotionally intelligent managers consistently report higher satisfaction, lower turnover, and better project outcomes. Start with one habit this week and watch the transformation unfold.