There’s been a growing fascination with emotional intelligence – how to listen, how to respond, how to stay calm under pressure. You can find endless advice on what an emotionally intelligent leader should do: pause before reacting, speak with empathy, never let frustration leak through. It’s well-intentioned. Emotional intelligence is vital – it builds trust, […]

In many leadership circles, I’ve read about about emotional awareness: “Emotions are data.” “Emotions are messengers.” “Emotions never lie.” Yes, emotions do matter. They can be powerful, deeply human sources of information and I support developing increasing emotional intelligence within leadership by encouraging reflection, empathy, and authenticity. But I wonder if there’s a quiet risk […]

I was listening to the Modern Wisdom podcast this morning, whilst walking the dog, and the host Chris Williamson discussed an interesting consideration – how often do we use a strong work ethic (busyness) to hide and manage difficult feelings. Typically, when a podcast sparks my curiosity, I found myself wondering how this presents in […]