Thoughts. Reflections. Intentions.

Over the past decade or more, emotional intelligence has gained traction as a must-have trait, particularly for leaders. But the term is used so freely and frequently that few of us can really articulate what it means. Is it composure? Is it flexibility? Is it empathy?

Emotional intelligence can encompass all these traits, but more specifically, it’s defined as your capacity for awareness and effective management of your emotions. Those with high EQ are more likely to be aware of, control, and express their emotions.

Nearly everyone has the capacity for emotional intelligence, but tapping into it is often easier said than done. It becomes especially challenging in stressful circumstances, when your nervous system is triggered and sets off a tsunami of feelings that are difficult to get a grip on. Read more.

I consider myself to be fiercely independent and outrageously resourceful. From a young age, I was programmed to solve my own problems, move my own barriers, and work through my own obstacles. Help? I don’t need it. Support? I can take it or leave it. This mindset has had its advantages in life and my career. It’s made me strong, capable, and resilient. But it’s also had some disadvantages. I can appear distrustful or distant. I’ve turned down opportunities for teamwork or collaboration that would have expanded my learning and growth. It wasn’t until started working with Transitions Coaching that Read more.

As leaders today, our capability to lead change is constantly being tested. At the same time, we’re stretching our teams’ capacity to absorb change. Read more.

The tension in my shoulders. The quickening of my pulse. The clenching of my jaw. The tightness in my chest. It wasn’t a physical threat triggering my fight or flight response—it was an annual performance review. Read more.

The threat of professional burnout isn’t new, but it certainly seems to be becoming more prevalent. Back in 2012, a ComPsych survey found that 62% of workers in North America felt high levels of stress, loss of control, and extreme fatigue. A study in 2021 reported that 60% of professionals experienced burnout often or very often, and 90% felt their work lives were getting worse during the pandemic. We can’t deny that burnout is dangerous So dangerous, in fact, that in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) added burnout to its International Classification of Diseases. The research looking at burnout Read more.

As we’ve evolved as humans, we’ve created mechanisms to help us handle all sorts of situations. We’ve developed skills to make quick decisions, maintain our safety, and protect ourselves from threats. Read more.

Leaders are grappling with some big and complex issues: increasing turnover, widening skills gaps, and elusive talent. The problems often feel insurmountable, and they’re also universal. Read more.

Change is often external. We sometimes think of it as what happens to us when we’re faced with something new. Transition occurs internally. It’s what happens with us—inside of us—when we’re faced with something new. Read more.

This time of year naturally urges reflection. At work, you probably see it in the number of strategic planning and budgeting meetings that creep onto your calendar or the emails in your inbox with reminders about goal setting. In your personal life, you might see it in expressions of gratitude during the holidays or talk about adopting resolutions on January 1. Read more.

As the complex beings we are, it’s tough to decipher all the drivers of our personal growth. In one article, an expert will claim emotional intelligence is the most important ingredient. In another, someone will say it’s empathy or compassion. The truth is, all of these things—in different doses—are vital. Read more.