Social intelligence: the strengths advantage

Social intelligence is about being aware of the motives and feelings of yourself and others, and acting wisely in social situations

For product and transformation leaders, it’s the strength that enables influence, builds trust, and helps teams collaboratively navigate complexity with confidence

At the senior Head of, Director, General Manager, and C-Suite levels, social intelligence is a critical leadership quality. Successfully taking people on your change journey depends on your ability to read the room, anticipate reactions, and shape outcomes through relationships

Examples of underuse. A Chief Transformation Officer may miss the signs of fatigue in their team, pushing them harder to deliver when rest and recovery might be what they actually need. A General Manager in Product who fails to recognise stakeholder concerns risks blindsiding executives and losing sponsorship for their initiatives

Examples of optimal use. A PMO Director who applies social intelligence well might sense that whilst governance resets are required they are also being resisted and they reframe the conversation to build buy in. A CEO who reads the mood of the organisation during a strategic pivot can adjust their communication style, calm nerves, provide steadying confidence, and accelerate adoption

Examples of overuse. Social intelligence taken too far can become manipulative. A Head of Engineering who constantly adapts their stance to please others risks appearing insincere. A Head of Product who overplays empathy without holding firm boundaries may blue accountability, undermine credibility, and sabotage delivery outcomes

The sweet spot is social intelligence that balances awareness with integrity. Product and transformation leaders who use this strength well build trust, influence outcomes, and create cultures where change feels possible

Research shows that leaders who know, apply, and maximise their strengths experience higher resilience, stronger influence, and improved performance outcomes. Social intelligence is just one of the 24 strengths we explore in The Strengths Advantage

The Strengths Advantage

Book your team into the half-day workshop to build relational awareness, or choose the 90-minute 1:1 leader session to sharpen your own relationship management and influencing skills