If you have ever wondered what makes some leaders in tune with their environments and sensitive to the needs of their employees while others are not, you are not alone. As a university professor who is certified to teach graduate-level management and organizational behaviors MBA courses, I can tell you that emotionally stupid leaders occupy the seat of power of many of our organizations, houses of worship, educational institutions and seats of government, just to name few.

These leaders' decision-making abilities and the protocol guiding their behaviors most often are swayed by their own emotions without regard to the well-being of their followers. But have you ever asked why? Why are some leaders in tune with their working environments while others are not?

First, allow me to define the term "emotional stupidity" so we understand when and how it applies. I define it as the lack of self- and environmental awareness manifested through negative acts resulting from emotional behaviors. So, the definition of an emotionally stupid leader is an individual who lacks self- and environmental awareness and, through their behaviors, negatively affects their environment, whether personal, professional or academic.

These are the six primary characteristics of an emotionally stupid leader:

They're Easily Angered

The slightest mistake made by their employees will make emotionally stupid leaders easily irritable and upset. Have you ever had a leader scream at you and your team for the slightest mistake? This is a sign of an emotionally stupid leader.

Solution: If this describes you, I recommend anger management courses.

As an employee dealing with an irate leader, stay calm. Do not get angry and answer back. Immediately excuse yourself from the presence of this emotionally stupid leader and find ways to calm yourself down. For the future, prepare techniques ahead of time on how to calm yourself down when faced with situations like this. Easily angered leaders are unpredictable and may complain and snap at their followers at a moment's notice, sometimes for no reason. Your lack of response may diffuse the situation and may calm the leader down.

They're Impulsive

Emotionally stupid leaders are impulsive. They act without thinking. Most decisions they make during the impulsiveness stage are made without forethought, and they usually regret these decisions later.

Solution: Make it a practice (until you reach an acceptable level of emotional intelligence) that other leaders in your company agree with important decisions before you make them.

They Lack Self-Control

Emotionally stupid leaders lack self-control, which may result in the failure of the use of willpower, i.e., to achieve or conform. Leaders who cannot control themselves are easy prey for lawsuits and great candidates for legal trouble.

Solution: You likely don't recognize your lack of self-control. You may consider their emotional outbursts, aggressive behaviors and the resulting hostile environment as business as usual. To enhance your self-control, you can practice mindfulness, as explained below.

They Lack Self-Awareness

Emotionally stupid leaders lack self-awareness. They are reactionary and do not differentiate themselves from the environment in which they live and work. The leaders inability to distinguish the difference between the two could cause confusion that may result in a lack of self-awareness.

Solution: If you're not self-aware, it will be hard to convince you that you lack self-awareness. Enroll in self-development training sessions and take personality assessments tests. When you recognize yourself as separate from your environment, you can see yourself more clearly. Be aware of your internal and external selves and how each relates to your environment.

They Lack Empathy

Emotionally stupid leaders lack empathy with their employees. Here, I define empathy as the leader's ability to feel what their followers feel. Stereotyping, prejudice and ignorance could be considered three of the primary reasons leaders lack empathy.

Solution: Put yourself in the shoes of your employees and genuinely attempt to feel what they feel. Stay curious about their feelings.

They Lack Mindfulness

Mindfulness means different things to different people, but at its core, it means paying attention and being aware of your own abilities and environment. Emotionally stupid leaders lack mindfulness because they are not self-aware. They unintentionally remove themselves from their environment and disconnect with their employees.

Solution: Work on being present in the moment and in your environment. Practice daily reflection, be an active listener, take time for yourself, be mindful of others and their well-being, and understand the power of emotional intelligence.

Emotionally stupid leaders are the main reason toxic work environments exist. I hope shining a light on the components of emotional stupidity and the characteristics of emotionally stupid leaders has made you aware of how you can grow and become more emotionally intelligent.

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How To Identify And Overcome Emotional Stupidity - Forbes