Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, and solve problems. But as AI advances, a crucial human skill is becoming more valuable than ever: emotional intelligence (EI).
While AI excels in processing data and automating tasks, it lacks the ability to truly understand emotions, build trust, and navigate complex human interactions. This is where emotional intelligence comes in—helping leaders, professionals, and organizations harness AI responsibly and effectively.
What is emotional intelligence, and why does AI need it?
Emotional intelligence, often called EQ (emotional quotient), refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others. Jeanine Parolini, Ph.D., Bethel University’s MBA program director, highlights five key areas where AI requires greater emotional intelligence:
1. Enhancing user experience and understanding intent
AI-driven tools like ChatGPT respond to prompts, but they do not “feel” emotions. Human oversight ensures AI interactions remain empathetic and effective.
2. Ethical AI use
Emotionally intelligent leaders recognize AI’s potential biases and make ethical decisions about its deployment.
3. Building trust
Trust is built on empathy, authenticity, and relational understanding—qualities that AI lacks but emotionally intelligent professionals can foster.
4. Mitigating bias and discrimination
AI systems can reflect biases in their training data. A strong emotional intelligence mindset helps professionals spot and correct these biases.
5. Adaptability and personalization
While AI can customize user experiences, emotionally intelligent professionals refine AI-driven personalization with human insight and care.
The growing value of emotional intelligence in the AI era
As AI takes on more technical and analytical tasks, emotional intelligence is becoming a key differentiator in leadership and career growth. Research shows that emotional intelligence is positively associated with:
- Career advancement and leadership success
- Employee engagement and organizational trust
- Higher job satisfaction and stress management
- Agile leadership in fast-changing industries
In fact, a Gartner report found that AI has created more jobs than it has eliminated, reinforcing the idea that human skills—especially emotional intelligence—remain irreplaceable.
How leaders can strengthen emotional intelligence in the AI age
For professionals navigating AI-driven workplaces, developing emotional intelligence is critical. Here are three ways to strengthen your emotional intelligence:
1. Cultivate self-awareness
Recognize how AI affects your decision-making and interactions. Ask yourself: Are you using AI to enhance human connection or replace it?
2. Prioritize ethical AI use
Advocate for responsible AI implementation by questioning biases, ensuring transparency, and keeping human values at the center of decision-making.
3. Use AI to complement, not replace, human skills
AI is best used for cognitive and analytical tasks, while humans excel in social and emotional tasks. Identify which areas require human intuition and empathy and where AI can enhance efficiency.
Bethel University’s MBA program: Preparing leaders for the AI era
At Bethel University, we believe leadership is about more than just technical skills—it is about developing as a whole person: professionally, intellectually, personally, ethically, and spiritually. Our MBA program equips professionals with the knowledge and character to navigate the evolving landscape of AI and emotional intelligence.
You may be considering an MBA to advance your career, earn a promotion, or become a more effective leader. At Bethel, you will gain the skills to meet these goals and so much more. Our program fosters confidence, wisdom, depth of character, and professionalism, helping you become the kind of discerning, ethical leader that organizations want to hire and promote.
For those interested in exploring these topics further, Bethel’s MBA program recently hosted a webinar, “Why AI Requires Greater Emotional Intelligence” led by Jeanine Parolini, Ph.D. Events like these demonstrate how Bethel is actively engaging with industry-relevant topics while staying rooted in faith-based leadership principles.
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