Abstract
The Danish Army has more than ten years of experience working with developing emotional intelligence in the Royal Danish Army Officers’ Academy (RDAOA), and the Academy has developed military leaders who have benefitted from emotional intelligence training. Today many of the military leaders are better at understanding themselves as well as their ability to build relationships whilst under great pressure e.g. during combat operations. On the basis of field experience, qualitative research and quantitative data the effects of working with emotional intelligence in a structured way is presented and discussed using a social constructionism approach – how does using the notation about emotional intelligence affect and give meaning in organizations? The novelty of this leader development program is developing leaders working in organizations under extreme pressure (war). We will try to tie in with this issue’s theme of ‘Flow Beyond Systems: Development through Somatic Intelligence’ by showing how emotional intelligence can create meaning at different levels by connecting situational awareness to intelligent action and decision-making.