The three crucial elements of successful leadership in 2018 are emotional intelligence, effective communication and a desire to do better, according to Joan Trotta, founder and managing partner of consulting firm Leaders Edge.
Ms. Trotta highlighted three leaders demonstrating those key management qualities.
1. Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini
After a serious skiing accident in 2004, Mr. Bertolini cultivated self-awareness and emotional intelligence by doing yoga and practicing mindfulness. Using these strategies, he fostered open communication within his company and discovered dissatisfaction among employees. He invested in his workforce by increasing wages, implementing health and wellness initiatives, and working to combat sleep deprivation among employees.
The result of these efforts? Aetna's stock rose from $30 per share to $153 per share, and CVS Health agreed to acquire Aetna for $69 billion.
2. REBBL CEO Sheryl O’Loughlin
The former Cliff Bar and Co. CEO and co-founder of Plum Organics, Sheryl O'Laughlin faced battles with depression and anorexia that threatened her ability to continue serving in leadership roles.
However, Ms. O'Laughlin's self-awareness and her ability to express her vulnerability — she drew on personal hardships to author a book for entrepreneurs — empower her to lead REBBL with an admirably compassionate style, according to Ms. Trotta.
Through REBBL, a maker of natural, organic beverages, Ms. O'Laughlin exemplifies her loving leadership philosophy: 2.5 percent of net sales for each bottle sold is donated to a nonprofit that fights human trafficking.
3. Dr. Bronner’s CEO David Bronner
Dr. Bronner's, a soapmaking company, is led by Mr. Bronner and his brother, Michael Bronner. They treat employees as an extension of their family, which is exemplified by the company's decision to cover 100 percent of workers' health insurance costs.
David Bronner's conviction that doing the right thing for his employees is the best business decision comes from his emotional intelligence, according to Ms. Trotta. He "has deeply-held values about how to run his company the right way, and those values are the key to innovation and communication within his organization," she said.