Emotional Intelligence has become one of the most discussed concepts in organisational development. Most organisations recognise that it matters. Fewer are clear on what it looks like in practice — and fewer still have created the conditions in which it develops into genuine, lasting behavioural change rather than remaining a score on an assessment report.

The phrase 'soft skills' has always been a curious one. It implies that understanding oneself, reading a room and leading with empathy is somehow less rigorous than technical competence. Self-awareness is not a nice-to-have addition to a leadership profile. It is the foundation on which every other leadership capability is built.