What Marriage Taught Me About Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

Last month marked my 25th wedding anniversary. The milestone made me pause and reflect on something unexpected: the overlap between a strong marriage and strong leadership.

At the core of both? Showing up and caring deeply.

In a marriage, success isn’t built on grand gestures alone. It’s built on consistency—being there day in and day out, even on the mundane days. Leadership is no different. Your presence matters. Being someone your team can rely on creates psychological safety and lasting trust.

But presence alone isn’t enough. Emotional intelligence—particularly the ability to care and show that you care—is what makes leaders truly memorable. When you lead with empathy, your team feels seen, valued, and motivated to rise to the occasion. Just like in a marriage, it’s not about perfection—it’s about staying emotionally connected and invested.

Leadership and emotional intelligence go hand in hand. And sometimes, life reminds us that the best leadership lessons come from the relationships we value most.

Read more: 5 Steps to Great Leadership