Lumenalta survey finds that 90% of IT leaders say EQ powers innovation

Silicon Valley doesn’t have a shortage of technical talent. What it does have is a shortage of emotional intelligence.

That’s not a jab — it’s a reality more and more IT leaders are waking up to. In a recent Lumenalta survey of 901 IT professionals, 90% said emotional intelligence (EQ) drives performance and innovation. Nearly all agreed it’s essential to the workplace.

For companies racing to innovate, attract funding, and scale teams across geographies, those numbers say something loud and clear: if you want to move fast and build things that matter, emotional intelligence can’t be optional.

Why EQ Now?

EQ — the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and empathize with others — isn’t a new idea. But in today’s tech landscape, it’s having a moment.

Startups are operating in high-stress environments. Teams are increasingly remote. Deadlines are tight, feedback is constant, and interpersonal friction is common. In this environment, soft skills aren’t just “soft.” They’re survival tools.

Think of EQ as the human operating system behind your organization. When it’s running smoothly, collaboration flows, feedback lands, and ideas get traction. When it’s buggy? Miscommunication spikes, conflicts simmer, and even the most talented engineers can lose momentum.

EQ Unlocks Innovation — Here’s How

Let’s be real: the best ideas in tech rarely come from one brilliant mind working in isolation. They come from people talking, iterating, challenging each other, and combining perspectives. That kind of collaboration doesn’t work without trust, empathy, and clear communication — all hallmarks of high EQ.

According to the Lumenalta survey:

• 88% of IT leaders said high EQ improves problem-solving.
• 87% said it positively impacts client relationships.
• 81% said it helps teams adopt new technologies more smoothly.

If your product pipeline, customer onboarding, or internal tools keep hitting roadblocks, it might not be your tech stack — it might be your team’s emotional architecture.

The Startup Culture Trap

It’s easy in high-growth environments to prioritize technical brilliance and overlook emotional depth. EQ isn’t always easy to quantify. It doesn’t show up in a GitHub repo or pitch deck. And when you’re hiring fast, moving fast, and scaling fast, it can feel like something you’ll “work on later.”

But later often turns into never — and the cost shows up in team turnover, failed partnerships, or missed funding opportunities. One Lumenalta survey respondent noted their team lost a major deal because poor communication caused internal delays. Another said a lack of empathy during a feedback session nearly broke the team apart.

Technical skills get the build started. Emotional intelligence keeps it from falling apart.

Coaching, Not Coding

Lumenalta’s approach to EQ development isn’t about platitudes. It’s about structure. Every developer is assigned a coach — not just to hit goals, but to work on how they communicate, how they respond to frustration, and how they collaborate under pressure.

One developer admitted they often clashed with peers until they realized, through coaching, that their frustration came from unspoken expectations. Once they addressed the source — not just the symptom — their working relationships improved, and so did team velocity.

That kind of transformation isn’t fluffy. It’s measurable. It shows up in project delivery, client satisfaction, and retention rates.

For Founders and Team Leads: A Challenge

If you’re leading a startup or engineering team, ask yourself:

• Do your top performers make others better — or harder to work with?
• Can your team give and receive feedback without creating rifts?
• Do your engineers understand client concerns beyond the technical scope?

If the answer is “not really,” you don’t need to hire a therapist. But you might need to rethink what you’re rewarding and how you’re leading.

EQ Isn’t a Luxury — It’s Your Advantage

In Silicon Valley, everyone’s building with the same frameworks. The difference often comes down to team dynamics — and that’s where EQ makes all the difference.

Companies that prioritize emotional intelligence don’t just move faster. They move smarter. They listen better, build better, and navigate complexity with more resilience.

When the next wave of AI, AR, or automation hits, the companies that win won’t just be the ones with the best tools. They’ll be the ones with the best people — people who can code, sure, but who can also communicate, adapt, and collaborate without imploding.

Because as one Lumenalta developer put it, “If you’ve got both tech skills and EQ, it’s like having a superpower.”