What's the real difference between a manager and a leader? While technical skills and industry knowledge matter, emotional intelligence often makes or breaks leadership effectiveness. In this episode, Kristen breaks down the Genos six key competencies of emotional intelligence and how they show up in leadership, while Mike adds his perspective (using an enlightening feelings wheel). Through practical examples and even a few Star Trek references, they explore how emotional intelligence impacts everything from decision-making to team performance. Whether you've heard of EI before or this is all new territory, you'll walk away understanding exactly what emotional intelligence looks like in action and how to start improving yours today.

Download your free PDF companion to this episode, featuring the Genos emotional intelligence model and 18 tips for boosting your EI: https://llpod.link/ei

Highlights:

• The history of emotional intelligence and how it became such an important leadership skill
• Why emotional intelligence can be learned (with the right approach)
• The research-backed benefits of emotional intelligence for leadership effectiveness
• A breakdown of the six Genos emotional intelligence competencies: self-awareness, awareness of others, authenticity, emotional reasoning, self-management, and inspiring performance
• How to actually improve your emotional intelligence through reflection, feedback, and intentional habit formation
• The balance between showing authenticity and managing emotions as a leader
• The critical importance of understanding both emotional and logical information in decision-making

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Free PDF: 18 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence
• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
• Harvard Business Review: What Makes a Leader by Daniel Goleman
• Genos International
• Iron Sharpened Leadership by John Gronski
• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Feelings Wheel 2 Pack (from Amazon)

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

In part two of their deep dive into Brené Brown's Dare to Lead, Kristen and Mike explore shame, empathy, and trust through both personal and professional lenses. Through vulnerable stories - including Mike's nerve-wracking experience of saying "I love you" first and Kristen's college final exam mishap - they break down how shame shows up in leadership and what to do about it. The episode unpacks practical frameworks for building trust, developing emotional literacy, and becoming more resilient. For leaders looking to create psychologically safe environments where their teams can take risks and bounce back from failure, this episode offers concrete tools and relatable examples of putting Brown's research into practice.

You can listen to part one here: https://www.loveandleadershippod.com/12

Highlights:

• The difference between shame ("I am bad") and guilt ("I did something bad"), and why this distinction matters for leadership
• How shame can permeate organizational culture through perfectionism, favoritism, and tying self-worth to productivity
• The BRAVING framework for building trust: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, and Generosity
• Understanding emotional literacy and why leaders need to be able to identify and name at least 30 different emotions
• Six common ways people offload emotions onto others, including "chandeliering" (sudden emotional outbursts from those in power)
• The importance of identifying personal and organizational values, and how to actually put them into practice
• Why "the story I'm telling myself" is a powerful tool for managing emotional reactions
• The three-step Learning to Rise process for building resilience: The Reckoning, The Rumble, and The Revolution

Links & Resources:

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Dare to Lead Hub - Free downloadable workbook and resources
• The Thin Book of Trust by Charles Feltman
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
• The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Wilink
• Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

As the 2024 US presidential election looms, leaders face a unique challenge: supporting their teams' mental wellness during a high-stress period. In this episode, Kristen and Mike explore this timely topic with licensed therapist Megan Romano. They discuss how leaders can navigate the emotional minefield of election season, from recognizing their own triggers to creating a psychologically safe environment for their teams. Megan shares practical techniques for emotional regulation and emphasizes the importance of leaders modeling vulnerability and self-care. This episode offers invaluable insights on how to lead with empathy and resilience during turbulent times.

About Megan:

Megan Romano (M.S., LMFT) is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma therapy. With extensive experience in inpatient rehabilitation and online therapy, she has treated clients globally and trained therapists in various settings. She is certified in treating disruptive behavioral disorders, crisis intervention, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral disorders. She provides therapy for individuals, families, and couples, addressing a wide range of challenges. She has received "The Best of Brooklyn Award for Counseling and Mental Health" for nine consecutive years. She is also the founder of Human Nation™, a mental health resource, and the inventor of a patent-pending trauma intervention that is 100% effective and substance-free.

Highlights:

• The impact of elections on workplace dynamics: 79% of employees reported being distracted during the 2020 election.
• The importance of leaders recognizing and regulating their own emotions before addressing their team's concerns.
• Techniques for emotional regulation, including breathing exercises and identifying physical signs of stress.
• The value of taking timeouts during tense meetings to allow for emotional processing.
• The role of vulnerability in leadership and how it can foster trust and psychological safety.
• The concept of "tend and befriend" as a positive stress response in the workplace.
• The importance of authentic check-ins with employees and listening to learn rather than to respond.
• Tips for finding the right therapist and normalizing mental health care in the workplace.
• The benefits of proactive therapy for leaders, even without a specific crisis or diagnosis.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Human Nation™ website
• Megan Romano Therapy
• Megan’s new Instagram account
• Zippia election study
• The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com