Top managers play a crucial role in setting the emotional climate of an organization. Managers with high emotional intelligence (EI) tend to inspire and retain employees better, leading to stronger organizational performance. Key qualities of top managers include understanding how one's actions are perceived by others, maintaining rapport and empathy, and building trustworthy relationships through fair, friendly, and patient interactions. The emotional makeup and behaviors exhibited at the top of the organization trickle down through the entire company, so it is important for senior leadership to foster an atmosphere of collaboration, openness, and trust.