“Emotional leadership thrives on open communication. It’s about exchanging ideas and encouraging collaboration.”
“Good emotions lead to good outcomes and good leadership starts it all.”
Leadership, for me, has always been emotional. Not in a sentimental way, but in the sense that how we feel and how we make others feel, shapes the way we work and grow together. Over the years, I have learned that leadership isn’t just about hierarchy or control; it’s about humanity.
When I first started leading teams, I thought success meant having the right strategies, systems, and numbers. I focused on performance and results. But I later realized that even the best plans fall short when people feel ignored or undervalued.
That lesson became even clearer when I was doing my doctorate at the University of Liverpool Management School, where I studied how emotions affect leadership. One of my mentors, Dr. Terence Nolan, once told me, “Emotion isn’t weakness, it’s information.” That line stuck with me.
At The MASA Group, I’ve seen that truth in action. During the pandemic, I made it a point to personally check in with our teams, not to talk about targets, but to ask how they were holding up. Those simple conversations built trust that no memo or policy could. When challenges came our way, it wasn’t rules that kept us together, it was empathy.
I remember one of our provincial teams struggling after a typhoon hit. Logistics were down, morale was low, and things were uncertain. Instead of demanding results, I chose to listen. We worked through the problems together. What could’ve been a setback turned into a shared victory. That moment taught me that emotional leadership isn’t about avoiding hard calls, it’s about facing them with compassion and clarity.
I also learned that when leaders empower people by trusting them, giving them room to grow, and recognizing their efforts it brings out the best in everyone. When people feel appreciated, they take ownership. They give more, not because they have to, but because they want to. I’ve seen team members step up in ways that surprised even them, all because they felt supported and valued. That kind of empowerment doesn’t just boost results; it builds a healthy organization where people genuinely care about what they do.
Emotional leadership also thrives on open communication. It’s about exchanging ideas and encouraging collaboration. There has to be feedback—honest, respectful, and constant—because at the end of the day, we learn from it. We grow from it. As leaders, we’re not supposed to have all the answers. I’ve found that some of the best ideas come from the people who are closest to the work. Listening to them doesn’t just improve outcomes; it strengthens the bond between leaders and teams.
People reflect the tone of their leaders. When we choose calm over panic, gratitude over criticism, and kindness over ego, it spreads. The culture shifts. I’ve seen that ripple effect in action when I lead with empathy, others start doing the same. That’s when organizations become not just productive, but healthy.
I often remind my managers, “Our people don’t work for us they work with us.” It’s a small change in words, but a big shift in mindset. Leadership today isn’t about being on top. It’s about being at the center—connecting, listening, and inspiring others to lead with heart.
Looking back, I’ve come to see emotional leadership not as a style, but as a way of life. Success isn’t measured by how high we climb, but by how many we lift along the way. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years of leading, it’s that empathy will always be our greatest advantage in business and in life.
Dr. Stephene Roy C. Condino, MBA (UK), known as Doc Bigs, is the Group Executive Vice President of The MASA Group of Companies, overseeing 16 subsidiaries nationwide. A scholar-practitioner and professor of management at De La Salle University, he is the first Filipino to graduate from the University of Liverpool Management School (UK). Recognized among the Philippines’ Top 10 Multipreneurs, Dr. Condino champions emotionally intelligent leadership and shared prosperity — believing that real success means growing together.
