Corporate leadership training
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Training Course in the United Arab Emirates
Build leaders who know their own strengths and blind spots, keep composure when pressure mounts, balance emotional insight with rational thinking and build rapport and loyalty across their teams, so people collaborate, adapt and innovate, through practical, hands-on training.
- In-person, virtual
or blended - Customised for
your organisation - Delivered worldwide,
including the United Arab Emirates - For executives, managers
and aspiring leaders
Course overview
What Is Emotional Intelligence in Leadership?
Emotional intelligence in leadership is the capacity to perceive and handle emotions, both your own and those of the people you work with, and to apply that awareness to how you lead. The course works through its five elements, self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation and social skill, and shows how each one affects communication, conflict, team engagement and decisions made under strain.
Interactive workshops, practical exercises, case studies and insightful discussions let participants rehearse keeping composure, listening with empathy and offering constructive feedback in the challenges leaders in the United Arab Emirates face.
The course is delivered for organisations across the United Arab Emirates whose leaders work in a competitive, fast-moving business landscape, where technical expertise alone is no longer enough. It helps leaders, from senior executives to emerging managers, use emotional intelligence to build trust, steer through change and lead with authenticity.
Why it matters
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in the United Arab Emirates
Competitive, fast-changing markets ask more of leaders in the UAE than technical skill. Leaders who understand and manage emotions build trust, keep morale steady through change and create workplaces where teams collaborate and innovate.
Stronger working relationships
Understanding colleagues helps leaders build the rapport, respect and loyalty that teamwork rests on.
Clear thinking under pressure
Leaders with emotional balance weigh feeling and fact and decide soundly when stakes rise.
A healthier team climate
A supportive, respectful climate encourages people to engage, share ideas and innovate.
Leading people through change
Agile, resilient leaders help organisations in the UAE adapt as conditions shift.
The Knowles leadership approach
From Insight to Impact
Over six connected steps, participants learn to register a feeling, hold back the first impulse, consider the other person’s emotions, listen fully, reply in a helpful way and look back on the result, wherever they lead.
Emotional intelligence in action
- 1. NoticeWhat am I feeling, and why?
- 2. PauseHow should I respond?
- 3. UnderstandWhat are they feeling?
- 4. ConnectHave I really listened?
- 5. RespondWhat helps right now?
- 6. ReflectWhat will I do differently?
Key benefits
Why Organisations Choose This Course
This programme helps your leaders and your organisation to:
Stronger Self-Awareness
Leaders identify their emotional strengths, weaknesses and blind spots.
Calmer Under Pressure
Maintain composure in stressful situations and make informed choices.
Empathetic Leadership
Grasp what each colleague feels and support them accordingly.
Better Conflict Handling
Navigate disputes constructively and keep the workplace harmonious.
More Engaged Teams
Energise people to pursue shared goals with commitment.
An Inclusive Culture
Shape a culture of respect and fairness where all team members feel included.
Have questions about this course?
Our team is happy to help. Send us a message and we will get back to you within one business day.
Course curriculum
A practical and structured learning journey.
The curriculum’s twelve units sit in three stages, moving from self-understanding to empathy for others and then to leading relationships, and pair theory with practical exercises so each skill is tried out in the room.
- Unit 1
Emotional Awareness
- Learn what emotional intelligence is and why it matters for leaders.
- See how your emotional state affects the mood and output of your team.
- Use assessment tools to uncover strengths and blind spots.
- Unit 2
Self-Regulation
- Hold back the first impulse and choose a considered response.
- Keep frustration and anxiety from steering your actions.
- Keep emotional balance in tense situations.
- Unit 3
Values and Integrity
- Clarify the ethical standards you choose to lead by.
- Bring your values in line with the organisation’s goals.
- Uphold integrity in every decision and action.
- Unit 4
Staying Resilient
- Pinpoint the pressures of leadership and their effect on your work.
- Develop strategies to cope with stress, uncertainty and adversity.
- Draw on emotional strength to bounce back from setbacks.
- Unit 5
Empathy in Action
- Practise active listening and empathetic communication.
- Interpret verbal and non-verbal signals to build rapport.
- Understand a colleague’s position before giving yours.
- Unit 6
Motivating Others
- Use emotional insight to engage and motivate the team.
- Learn what drives each member of your team.
- Set meaningful goals that match team values.
- Unit 7
Inclusive Teams
- Explore how varied backgrounds influence team dynamics.
- Challenge unconscious bias in daily decisions.
- Build an inclusive culture through empathy.
- Unit 8
Adapting Your Style
- Review leadership styles and the situations that suit each.
- Read the person and the situation before deciding how to lead.
- Stay flexible in your approach as people and conditions change.
- Unit 9
Constructive Feedback
- Offer feedback grounded in emotional insight and respect.
- Hear criticism without becoming defensive.
- Pair feedback with recognition to help people grow.
- Unit 10
Managing Conflict
- Find the sources of conflict and their impact on the team.
- Manage difficult conversations with emotional intelligence.
- Settle differences through mutual understanding.
- Unit 11
Building Trust
- Earn credibility through consistent, transparent conduct.
- Encourage open and honest communication in the team.
- Lead with authenticity to earn respect and loyalty.
- Unit 12
Developing Others
- Encourage team members to develop their own emotional skills.
- Identify and nurture your next generation of leaders.
- Draw up a plan to put the course into practice.
Course agenda
Two-day course agenda.
A sample agenda showing how the two days run, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The final agenda is agreed with you.
Welcome, objectives and introductions
Emotional awareness
Morning break
Self-regulation under pressure
Lunch
Values and integrity
Resilience and stress
Afternoon break
Empathy in action
Day one reflection
Close
Recap and goals for the day
Motivating others
Morning break
Inclusion and adapting your style
Lunch
Constructive feedback
Managing conflict and building trust
Afternoon break
Developing emotional intelligence in others
Personal action plan and next steps
Close
Participant resources
What participants receive.
A practical set of resources to support learning during the course and application afterwards.
Course Workbook
Content, summaries and activities for every unit.
Templates and Worksheets
Ready-to-use tools to apply learning at work.
Action Plan Template
Turn learning into clear next steps.
Job Aids and Quick Guides
Key models, checklists and frameworks for daily use.
Digital Resources
Additional materials to revisit after the course.
Certificate of Completion
Recognition of the training completed.
Practical application
From theory to real workplace impact.
Each idea is applied, not just discussed: participants assess their own emotional competencies, role-play delicate conversations and work through case studies built on the pressures leaders in the United Arab Emirates meet, balancing feelings with facts.
EI Self-Assessment
Assess your emotional competencies and spot your blind spots.
Empathy Role-Plays
Hear a colleague out and respond in a way that builds rapport.
Pressure Scenarios
Weigh emotional and rational inputs in a realistic high-stakes case.
Feedback Practice
Give feedback that is honest and constructive yet still respectful.
Who should attend
Designed for leaders who work through people.
It suits leaders at every level, from senior executives to emerging managers and entrepreneurs, who know that technical expertise is no longer enough and want to understand and manage emotions to lead with authenticity and empathy.
- ExecutivesLead with integrity and earn trust across the business.
- Middle ManagersStay composed between senior and team demands.
- Team LeadersEngage the team and resolve friction early.
- EntrepreneursEarn loyalty from employees, customers and partners.
- EducatorsSupport colleagues and learners with empathy.
- Aspiring LeadersLearn to manage emotions before leading.
Course format and delivery
Flexible options to suit your organisation.
Choose the format and duration that fit your schedule and learning needs, whether at your workplace in the United Arab Emirates, online or a mix of both.
In-Person Training
Delivered at your organisation in the United Arab Emirates or at a suitable venue.
Virtual Training
Interactive, engaging live online delivery.
Blended Learning
A combination of in-person and virtual sessions.
Customised Training
Tailor case studies, organisation focus, delivery mode, modules and duration. Explore Customized Training
- Typical Duration2 Full Days9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also available as a 1-day, half-day, 90-minute or 60-minute session.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites and experience level.
No prior experience is required. The course suits new and experienced leaders alike and works well for mixed groups.
No formal prerequisites
Open to anyone who wants to lead with greater emotional intelligence.
All experience levels
From aspiring leaders to senior executives.
Designed for mixed groups
Participants from different roles share perspectives and practise together.
Ready to reflect
Come ready to look honestly at how you react under pressure.
Course framework
A structured approach to developing leaders.
Learning follows a cycle: understand the emotions at play, try out a new response, review what happened and put the lesson to work with your own team.
Practical and Actionable
Strategies that are ready for your next meeting or team discussion.
Relevant to the United Arab Emirates
Focused on the people challenges of the UAE’s competitive workplaces.
Self-Discovery
Self-reflection that uncovers blind spots and builds confidence.
The emotional intelligence cycle
- 1. LearnCore leadership principles
- 2. ExploreCase studies and discussion
- 3. PractiseRole-plays and simulations
- 4. ReflectSelf-assessment and journaling
- 5. ApplyReal-world projects
- 6. GrowMentoring and peer support
Key learning outcomes
From knowledge to lasting leadership impact.
By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:
- 01
Know your emotions
Assess your emotions, strengths and blind spots, and their impact on others.
- 02
Manage your reactions
Use proven techniques to keep your composure and decide clearly under pressure.
- 03
Read people accurately
Interpret how colleagues feel and answer with understanding.
- 04
Give useful feedback
Give and take feedback that strengthens performance.
- 05
Handle conflict
Resolve disputes through collaboration and respect.
- 06
Motivate others
Engage and empower people to work towards shared goals.
Technical skill earns a leader a seat at the table; emotional intelligence earns the trust of everyone around it.
Example exercises and tools
Learn by doing.
Practical exercises and realistic scenarios help participants notice emotions in the moment and choose responses that build rapport and trust.
Interactive workshops, case studies and experiential exercises recreate moments leaders in the UAE will recognise, such as a decision that must be made quickly while emotions are high, or a team unsettled by a sudden change of direction. Participants practise weighing feelings alongside facts, keeping communication open and honest, and adapting with resilience, then take the techniques straight back to their own teams.
Trigger Mapping
Note the situations that provoke you and plan calmer ways to handle each.
Empathy Interviews
Explore a peer’s viewpoint and summarise it to their satisfaction.
Reframing Practice
Turn a stressful thought into a more constructive one.
Feedback Rehearsal
Plan a difficult conversation and practise it first.
Assessment
Assessment and learning progress.
A mix of steps before, during and after the programme keeps learning relevant and turns it into action.
Before the training
Share your goals and team context.
Agree the objectives and focus areas.
Confirm the format, timing and group.
During the training
Role-plays, simulations and practical exercises.
Feedback from experienced leaders as skills develop.
Group discussion and reflection.
After the training
A personal action plan for the workplace.
Self-assessment and guided journaling to track progress.
Ongoing learning through peers, mentors and the alumni network.
Workplace application
Relevant to your context.
Participants apply the skills in organisations and communities across the United Arab Emirates, from individual check-ins to guiding a team through uncertainty, pressure and change.
- One-to-One MeetingsListen fully and respond with care.
- Performance ReviewsPair honest feedback with recognition.
- Team ConflictsResolve friction through dialogue.
- Under PressureBalance feeling and fact when deciding.
- Times of ChangeAdapt with resilience and agility.
- Team ClimateKeep the culture respectful and fair.
Let’s discuss your requirements
Request a Customised Leadership Programme.
Talk to our team about how this course can be tailored for your organisation in the United Arab Emirates or other locations worldwide.
- Share your priorities
- Receive a tailored proposal
- Explore delivery options
Adapting for the United Arab Emirates
Adapting the programme for Emirati organisations.
We tailor the course so it reflects your people, your sector and the context you work in.
Local case studies
Examples and case studies drawn from leaders in the United Arab Emirates.
Cultural awareness
Content that respects cultural nuances and builds inclusive environments.
Community focus
Projects that address real local and community issues.
Industry and organisation focus
Examples, terminology and scenarios from your sector.
Delivery worldwide
Flexible delivery across the United Arab Emirates and worldwide.
We deliver this programme in the United Arab Emirates and in other locations worldwide, with flexible formats and options to suit your organisation.
- In-person
- Virtual
- Blended
At Your Workplace
In-house sessions at your office in the United Arab Emirates.
A Venue You Choose
Delivered at a training venue that suits your team.
Live Online
Interactive virtual sessions wherever your people are.
Across Countries
Programmes coordinated across several locations worldwide.
Client experiences
What our participants say.
Word-for-word feedback from participants at organisations in Singapore. Read all reviews
The course allowed me to identify the area where errors could occur and the various steps to identify and reduce the errors. Case studies were also provided to give a real-life experience instead of theoretical lessons.
Yes, particularly for beginners who need a clear, structured way to start organizing workplace information.
Yes, because it helped me learn the basics of critical thinking to generate new ideas, analyze articles, and make arguments.
Yes, since learning how to think critically is essential for both daily work tasks and personal decision-making.
The most useful aspects were learning about active listening, empathy, and adopting a growth mindset. The case studies and brainstorming sessions provided practical ideas for managing remote and hybrid teams, building rapport, and leading effectively.
Yes definitely, since it teaches a fresh, highly constructive approach to problem-solving and team collaboration.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this course.
What is the main focus of this course?
It develops the five elements of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation and social skill, and applies them to feedback, conflict and decisions in the workplaces leaders in the UAE run.
What topics does the course cover?
Twelve units in three stages: knowing yourself (emotional awareness, self-regulation, values and integrity, staying resilient), understanding others (empathy in action, motivating others, inclusive teams, adapting your style) and leading relationships (constructive feedback, managing conflict, building trust and developing others).
Who should attend this course?
Senior executives, middle managers, team leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and emerging leaders who want to lead with authenticity, empathy and sound judgement under pressure.
Is the course suitable for new or first-time leaders?
Yes. Emerging leaders gain the emotional skills a first leadership role requires, and seasoned executives refine how they engage and support their teams.
Is the course practical or theory-based?
Practical above all. Interactive workshops, case studies and experiential exercises give participants repeated practice in managing emotions, empathy and constructive conflict.
How long is the course?
The standard course runs over 2 full days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It can also be delivered as a 1-day, half-day, 90-minute or 60-minute session.
Can the course be customised for our organisation?
Yes. We can adapt the content, examples and format to your goals, industry and team. See Customized Corporate Training for how we tailor programmes.
Can we use examples from our own industry?
Yes. We design and deliver our courses with subject matter experts in each field. Tell us about your industry, context and terminology when you enquire, and it will be taken into account.
Can we combine this course with other topics?
Yes. We can combine related topics into one programme or build a learning pathway across several sessions and levels.
Is this course available outside the United Arab Emirates?
Yes. We deliver this programme in other countries worldwide, in person or live online, and can coordinate it across several locations.
What delivery options are available?
In person at your workplace or a venue you choose, live online, or a blend of both.
What kind of exercises and activities are included?
Competency self-assessments, trigger mapping, empathy interviews, rapport-building role-plays, high-pressure decision cases, feedback rehearsals and action planning.
Do participants receive mentoring during the course?
Yes. Participants receive mentorship and constructive feedback from experienced leaders throughout the course.
Will participants build a professional network?
Yes. Participants connect with fellow participants, build mentoring relationships with facilitators and guest speakers, and can join an alumni network for ongoing learning.
How does the course support personal growth?
Through regular self-assessment and reflection, guided journaling to track progress and set goals, and techniques for mindfulness and stress management.
Is the course relevant to the Emirati context?
Yes. It is designed for leaders working in the UAE’s competitive business environment, with case studies and discussions on decisions under pressure, conflict, change and trust in teams.
Which cities in the United Arab Emirates can the course be delivered in?
We can deliver it in cities across the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and other cities on request. We also offer a full range of leadership courses in the United Arab Emirates.
Can we download a course brochure?
Yes. Download our course brochure for an overview of our training programmes.
How do we request a proposal?
Share your goals and requirements through the enquiry form on this page. Our team replies within one business day with suggestions and a tailored proposal.
Who can we contact about this course?
Email [email protected], call +65 6714 6663 or use the enquiry form on this page. We reply within one business day.
Next steps
From enquiry to delivery.
A simple, transparent process from your first message to the training day.
- 1
Enquiry
Share your training needs and priorities.
- 2
Consultation
We discuss and refine the scope with you.
- 3
Proposal
Receive a tailored proposal with delivery options.
- 4
Confirm
Review, adjust and agree the details.
- 5
Delivery
We deliver the programme for your team.
Get in touch
Get in touch about this course.
Tell us about your team and goals, and we will recommend the right format for your organisation in the United Arab Emirates. Fill in the form or contact our team directly.
- Email us[email protected]
- Call us+65 6714 6663
- Quick replyWe get back to you within one business day.
- Ask before you commitTalk to our team about the right course and format for your needs.
This course is customisable
We can tailor the content, examples and activities to your team’s industry, goals and workplace context. Explore Customized Training
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