Leaders must regulate the mood of their organizations, whether they like it or not. The most gifted leaders do this through emotional intelligence, a mysterious combination of psychological characteristics. They are self-aware and compassionate to read and control their own emotions while also intuitively understanding how others feel and measuring the emotional state of their organization.

But where does emotional intelligence originate, and how can leaders learn to apply it? In this online article, 18 leaders and scholars, including leadership researchers, psychologists, autism experts, and business executives, examine the nature and management of emotional intelligence from its sources, usages, and misuses. Their comments varied, but a few consistent themes emerged: the essential of consciously—and conscientiously—honing one’s abilities, the double-edged aspect of self-awareness, and the difficulties of one emotional intelligence dominates.