THE EMOTIONAL TOOLBOX FOR LEADERSHIP: BUILDING CADETS’ SELF-AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Résumé

Mental well-being is often overlooked despite rising emotional distress worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated burnout, depleting emotional resilience. Research shows a decline in emotional intelligence (EQ) across working generations over the past four years, with Generation Z and Millennials most affected. Emotional hygiene is essential, requiring early integration into personal and professional development. Military cadets must develop emotional intelligence skills to enhance leadership, self-awareness, and resilience. This study, part of a sabbatical leave project, aimed to equip cadets with practical, emotional intelligence tools to strengthen interpersonal and leadership skills. Students from diverse military backgrounds participated in an intensive emotional intelligence and leadership training program. There were 57 feedback replies assessing the program's impact on self-awareness and communication skills and 43 answers to the two-phase questionnaire used during the project. Results showed increased emotional intelligence skills awareness among students. Participants recommended making such training mandatory in military curricula. Integrating emotional intelligence into leadership education can enhance cadets' ability to navigate complex environments, fostering resilient and empathetic leaders.