2025 Proved Emotional Intelligence is More Important Than Ever, Expert Reveals

In a year characterised by a challenging economic climate, restructuring and the growing influence of AI, one thing is clear: emotional intelligence (EI) is no longer optional. As 2025 draws to a close, Raise Your EI – a specialist communication and behaviour consultancy – calls on businesses to recognise the importance of EI as a key driver of organisational success and to embed it in their 2026 strategies. 

Recent findings confirm just how much financial and emotional pressure many people are under – pressure that highlights why EI matters now more than ever. A 2025 study found that 92% of UK employees experienced financial worry in the past year. What’s more, 81% of advisers reported noticing increased client anxiety ahead of the Autumn Budget announcement.

“This background of uncertainty and volatility proves that technical know-how alone is not sufficient to support clients and employees effectively. Businesses have to be able to recognise and respond to emotions, and it’s EI that makes the difference,” says James Woodfall, former financial adviser and founder of Raise Your EI, a consultancy helping clients improve business performance through the strategic application of EI.

In fact, research shows that professionals with higher EI often perform better. Data indicates that EI accounts for approximately 58% of a leader’s effectiveness. Furthermore, as AI and automation take over more routine tasks, global CEOs are also acknowledging that empathy and social intelligence are essential skills, and not just “nice-to-haves.”

Raise Your EI’s own journey also reflects the growing demand for emotional intelligence. In 2025, it celebrated its first year alongside the one-year anniversary of Woodfall’s book, The Heart of Finance. In just twelve months, the company has delivered training workshops, launched the Behaviour Analysis course, which built on its flagship Applied Emotional Intelligence for Financial Planners programme, shared its expertise at leading industry events, and earned a shortlisting for the Professional Adviser Awards. All of which demonstrates that organisations are seeing the real value of investing in EI development.

Woodfall urges leaders to act now, but how? He recommends they take these three steps to embed emotional intelligence into their 2026 strategy:

Investing in EI training: Developing emotional intelligence across all levels of an organisation leads to measurable benefits in communication, collaboration, and client relationships. Equip employees with the right skills to build relationships, spot changes in client behaviour, and support them through challenging times. Bring on board consultants and coaches to provide practical EI training.

Embedding EI in culture and leadership: Leaders set the tone in their organisation. Make emotional intelligence a core part of organisational culture by integrating it into day-to-day processes. Use self-awareness and empathy to build trust, reduce friction, model healthy behaviours, and make better decisions.

Leveraging EI as a business asset: EI delivers much more than what’s considered soft skills; it also increases sales, referrals, retention, and profitability, making it a crucial component of a business strategy. Aligning training success metrics with broader business goals demonstrates the broad ROI of EI.

“Companies often invest in new systems, platforms, and technology, but business growth doesn’t just come from processes; it comes from people,” says Woodfall. “In 2026, organisations can no longer afford to overlook the importance of developing their employees’ emotional intelligence. Those who prioritise it today will be best positioned to thrive next year and beyond.”