— Blog
Explore EQ Topics in Our Blog
Stay updated on the latest insights and trends in emotional intelligence thought leadership through our TalentSmartEQ blog.
FEATURED BLOG 
Blog Library
The Work-Life Blur
Growing up, I distinctly remember my grandmother always telling me that “it was all about balance.” Even then, it was a concept that I struggled Read More
4 Ways to Survive Your Family over the Holidays
The groceries are bought, and the cooking has started. You’ve even baked everyone’s favorite dessert early to have it ready in the freezer. Now…it’s time Read More
How to Handle the Midterm Election Outcomes
The ballots have all been cast, the counting has ensued, results have been announced (well, some have) and now we all are weighing in on Read More
Leveraging eLearning for a Competitive Advantage
Gone are the days of the 9-5 office grind. With constant growth in technology, heightened globalization, and the remnants of a pandemic that left us Read More
How Taylor Swift is Teaching Emotional Intelligence
Younger generations tend to be much more comfortable when it comes to getting in touch with their emotions. Do we have pop music to thank? Read More
The Missing Link to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Did you realize that right this very moment, 40% of workers at your job feel excluded? And over 60% feel like they have experienced or Read More
How to Manage Emotions When Disaster Strikes
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, it is important to consider emotional intelligence as a response to natural disasters. When the worst case scenario strikes, Read More
Emotional Intelligence Tip of the Day – Team EQ Edition
October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness month and we here at TalentSmartEQ are delighted there is a whole month dedicated to celebrating the power of EQ. Read More
The Cure for a Toxic Corporate Culture
I recently saw a meme that wonderfully summed up the concept of corporate culture: How do you feel on Sunday night about going to work Read More
An Emotionally Intelligent Tribute to The Queen
It was a fitting tribute Monday, September 19, to the woman who served as Queen of England for 70 years–one might even say an emotionally Read More
Just Breathe – Change Your Emotional and Physical Health
How many times have you been told to stop and just breathe? Saying this is much easier than doing it, especially in the heat of Read More
Emotional Intelligence & Heading Back to School
How important is Emotional Intelligence as we head back to school? Extremely! And who might benefit from a shot of EQ? Teachers, parents, and students! Read More
Emotional Intelligence Tip of the Day: Psychological Safety
As mentioned in our last blog article, psychological safety is "a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, Read More
Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Key to Psychological Safety
We've all been traumatized by the pandemic. So says Adria Horn, a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve and an army veteran who served Read More
What Can 7 Lessons From Childhood Tell Us About the Future of Teams?
The success of a goal, a strategy or a project usually relies on the performance and collaboration of a team. However, the process of learning Read More
An Emotionally Intelligent Change Model
The problem with change might be simpler than we tend to make it out to be. We often talk about change as an obstacle we Read More
How I Utilized Emotional Intelligence to Develop Resilience
Resilience has not always been part of my vocabulary. For most of my life, I was lucky enough to be spared from trauma, adversity, and Read More
Juneteenth and Emotional Intelligence
I am proud to be a member of TalentSmart, an organization that is celebrating the U.S. federal holiday of Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, a Read More
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Shows off Strong EQ
70 years on the throne and Queen Elizabeth–the longest serving monarch–has shown some strong emotional intelligence in handling the family dynamic. Social Awareness The last Read More
The 3 Most Common EQ Mistakes Teams Make
When Dr. Jean Greaves and I set out to write our recent book on teams and emotional intelligence, we started with a review of the Read More
EQ and The White House Press Secretary
How important is Emotional Intelligence in the role of White House Press Secretary? Probably more important than most of us have skill. As Jen Psaki Read More
Team Articles Round Up
For almost two decades we have trained and coached people on their emotional intelligence. This framework and set of skills can help individuals recognize and Read More
How the ‘Golden Arches’ is Showing Off Their EQ!
It may seem simple…a major fast-food restaurant asking for feedback about your experience. But the latest initiative by McDonalds takes it a step further…an emotionally Read More
Early Retirement @ 16 & 25? Sounds Like EQ at Play!
The recent announcement of two young powerhouse athletes announcing their retirement has many shaking their heads and asking, “Retirement?” But both Alysa Liu, the two-time Read More
Emotional Intelligence – Myths & Misconceptions
The study and practice of emotional intelligence isn’t new. Daniel Goleman’s seminal work came out in 1995. However, with a newfound focus in 2022 on Read More
The Resilient Tiger Woods!
Tiger Woods is back…but what does this have to do with Emotional Intelligence? One word: Resilience! Consider what it took to make the decision to Read More
Harry’s Tough Decision
The relationship situation between Royal Family and Prince Harry has surfaced yet again. But is this newest situation about the Princely Brothers not getting along Read More
Jen Psaki Leaving White House Press Secretary Role After Just Over 1 Year
It should not come as any surprise that White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki is soon to announce her resignation to join MSNBC. After all, Read More
A Bold Decision by Bruce Willis
Making Emotionally Intelligent Decisions Bruce Willis just announced that he is stepping away from his acting career after being diagnosed with Aphasia, a disorder that Read More
EQ & Parenting – Not for the Faint of Heart
Parenting is hard. Conventional wisdom holds that no one is quite ready to be a parent until it happens, then we learn as we go. Read More
Will & Chris at the Oscars – Bring in the EQ Strategies!
It was the slap heard around the world! Or at least seen and heard on National TV, during Oscar parties and at the 92nd annual Read More
Spring Forward
Could it really happen? Daylight Savings time permanent? No more 4:30pm darkness in the winter? It’s been talked about before and now the biggest move Read More
The G.O.A.T. is Back! – Tom Brady Returns to the NFL
Love him or hate him…the G.O.A.T. is back! Tom Brady is back. Back From Retirement Tom Brady, arguably the best quarterback to ever play in Read More
An Emotional Punch
Emotional Intelligence in Sports During the traditional postgame handshake between two college basketball rivals, tempers boiled over between Michigan and Wisconsin head coaches. Michigan Coach Read More
The 3 Things Your Employees Need Right Now
As a kid, the only motivation I needed was a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. I would lean back in that red pleather Read More
The Future of Work
Across America, organizations are grappling with the COVID-19 induced labor shortage that has now been coined the Great Resignation. Labor reports show that in September Read More
Emotional Intelligence in Action
Impact of emotional intelligence on work life balance Have you recently seen in the media an athlete, doctor, nurse, parent, police officer, politician, or veteran Read More
EQ for Peak Performance – “Faster, Higher, Stronger”
It was 97 degrees on the Astroturf at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, the score tied 2-2, a penalty corner shot opportunity with Read More
Using Emotional Intelligence to Be Intentional
By: Maggie Sass, Executive VP of Applied Research at TalentSmartEQ Yoga for enhancing emotional intelligence: Take 2 minutes in Savasana for relaxation and integration I Read More
Why Emotionally Intelligent People Get Vulnerable More Often
I will never forget how my writing professor opened up my first grad school class with a vulnerable story about her book writing process. A Read More
All-Stars and Coaches’ Favorites: The Best Lineup of Our Emotional Intelligence Articles in 2021
A year’s worth of emotional intelligence articles can teach us a lot. We can see, based on real world comments and feedback, what articles Read More
You Can’t Build Workplace Culture, but EQ Can Help You Foster It.
Many organizations talk to their leaders about “creating workplace culture.” Some talk about it in the context of hiring, training, or values. Others in terms Read More
How Emotional Intelligence Can Power Better Decision-Making
Several years ago, an article on decision-making and hockey went viral because it turned a core piece of hockey strategy on its head. Emotional Intelligence Read More
Harnessing Emotional Intelligence: A Lesson from Ballet-practicing Football Players
A lot of football players practice ballet, including Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and Herschel Walker. Of course, being good at ballet does not in Read More
8 EQ Strategies Developed 2,000+ Years Ago
How can the 2000-year-old teachings of Stoic philosophers help you improve your emotional intelligence, a concept popularized just 30 years ago? The short answer: Read More
9 Ways to Build Your Grit
What’s the best way to show up every day feeling motivated and fresh? How do successful people maintain motivation, stay strong in the face of Read More
Why Good Employees Quit (And What to Do About It)
You can likely remember at least one moment when a good employee left your organization. It stings. It hangs a dark cloud over morale, makes Read More
How Emotionally Intelligent People Conquer their Fears
For our ancestors, fear came in obvious forms: a bear, a steep cliff, a fire. Fear warned them of life and death dangers, instructing them Read More
How to Choose and Use an EQ Mentor
If you’re like most people, you don’t already know how to improve on the things you struggle with. That’s why you struggle with them Read More
3 Creative Ways to Boost Your Virtual Team’s EQ
Is remote work globalizing talent and opening up new possibilities, or is it stifling creativity and collaboration? As with many things in life, the answer Read More
How To Avoid A Disastrous Hire
Sometimes a candidate does seemingly everything right throughout the hiring process, only to become a completely destructive force in the organization. Their experience, knowledge, and Read More
Change Your Food to Change Your Mood: How What You Eat Affects Your Happiness
Bad moods sap our energy, and if we aren’t careful, they can hurt our ability to focus, make decisions, and manage our relationships. TalentSmartEQ’s data Read More
EQ and Navigating New Work Environments (Work from Home ): The Latest Research
As organizations reopen in varying ways and to varying degrees, one feeling is universal: Uncertainty. In a massive survey of remote workers during the pandemic, Read More
The Importance of Self-Awareness: Moods vs. Emotions
Two people are getting on the bus at the same time from the same stop: Marge and Adita. As they go up to the door, Read More
7 EQ Strategies for a Smooth Return to the Office
Social skills are like muscles: you use them, or you lose them. That’s why as more people get vaccinated and offices start to reopen, Read More
8 Habits of Highly Adaptable People
Adaptable people have a way of making everything look easy: They’re calm while everyone else is overwhelmed, they’re quick to embrace change and make the Read More
3 Types of People High EQ Teams Rely On To Succeed
Picture a sales team that performs highly and gets along well, but they ruffle so many feathers in the process that they actually become more Read More
How EQ Prevents Accidents and Increases Production
At Toyota manufacturing plants, a cord is placed in each assembly line for anyone to pull at any time to stop the line for safety, Read More
How to Build Organizational Buy-in for EQ
Convincing leaders, resource decision makers, or an entire organization to invest in emotional intelligence development (EQ) is a daunting yet worthwhile challenge. sustainable competitive advantage Read More
3 Ways Highly Effective Teams Handle Conflict
In a team environment, conflict is inevitable. Some conflicts are more minor like what time to hold a meeting, who is going to take lead Read More
Team Emotional Intelligence: Seeing Agreement as a Symptom, Not a Goal
A united team is often heralded as “the goal,” but swift agreement can also be a symptom of a bigger problem. 3 Strategies for Better Read More
3 Simple Strategies Extroverts Can Use To Increase Their EQ
It’s a common misconception that an extrovert working in a typically introverted job will feel dissatisfied and underperform. performance strategies In reality, extroverts can thrive Read More
How Emotions Affect Your Productivity
When we talk about productivity, we are quick to talk about things that help or hurt, like exercise, sleep, caffeine, our diets, work-tracking, goal-tracking, our Read More
4 EQ Strategies to Improve Your Relationships
When it comes to failed relationships, some people can point to a single moment that ruined everything, but the vast majority can’t. Instead, their problems Read More
Do Extroverts Have Higher EQs Than Introverts?
When we picture someone with a high emotional intelligence (EQ), it’s not uncommon to picture the radically sociable salesperson who lights up rooms, gregariously takes Read More
Why You’re Getting More Awkward, And 6 Strategies to Get You Back On Track
There’s no shortage of evidence pointing to the fact that social skills are like a muscle—you use them or you lose them. One of the Read More
One Key Strategy High EQ People Use To Grow Their Self-Awareness
When we talk about emotional intelligence (EQ), we are often talking about someone’s ability to recognize and understand their own emotions. This ability is called Read More
Nine Communication Mistakes You Might Be Making
No matter how smart, talented, or experienced you are, there are communication mistakes that can change the way people see you. At TalentSmart, stories shared Read More
The Value of EQ Feedback
Tai is known around his office as a “people person” and is a well-liked sales manager. His interpersonal skills are energetic and fun, and he’s Read More
How to Reflect on 2020 and Make Your Goals Stick in 2021
“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.” -Audre Lorde, Poet Reflection at the end of a year is as tumultuous as 2020 has Read More
Better EQ, Better Performance
In January of 2020, EQ had already topped LinkedIn’s Yearly Report on the Top 5 Most Desired Workplace Skills, and this was before workplace and Read More
3 Research-Backed Ways that EQ Drives Sales Performance
Barry, takes a week-long sales trip to New York to visit clients. He bounces around the city doing client visits while also juggling his full Read More
A Story of Remarkable Team EQ: The Maiden Crew
In 1989, Tracy Edwards put together the first ever all-women’s crew to enter the Round the World sailing race. After years of putting together their Read More
How Emotional Intelligence Drives Innovation
When we think about innovation, we usually picture someone quirky and isolated, like Yoshiro Nakamatsu the inventor of the floppy disc. When Nakamatsu had a Read More
How EQ Powers Patient Care
“What is remarkable is not merely the consequences of a doctor’s negative emotions. Despite research showing that most patients pick up on the physician’s negativity, Read More
3 Lessons in Team EQ from a Plan Gone Wrong
Whether it’s in the office, on Zoom, on a mountain, or in a boat, the performance of a team lies in that team’s ability to Read More
How to Keep Your Cool
“Anger doesn’t have the same way of goading minds as the other vices do; it drags them away, deprives them of self-control, drives them into Read More
Empathy Erosion: 5 Strategies to Rebuild Yours
That bitter, older manager in the office who’s always grumbling about the younger generations being “all selfies and no respect” might actually have a bit Read More
6 Strategies for Mastering Healthy Conflict
When you think about conflict at work, you might remember an antagonizing boss, petty office politics, and the know-it-all who talks over people. But, if Read More
Why You Need Emotional Agility to Succeed
How does a salesperson successfully close on the biggest opportunity of her career? What makes an executive leader resilient in the face of massive organizational Read More
7 Strategies That High EQ Leaders Use
In early March, Wilma was promoted to a sales management position. Although she was experienced at the organization and knowledgeable of their selling strategy, she Read More
The Secret to Team Performance (And 5 Strategies to Achieve it Virtually)
When Google HR hired a group of psychologists and sociologists to look for patterns in their highest performing teams, they thought team success had something Read More
The Case for Team Emotional Intelligence (Team EQ)
As organizations increasingly invest in emotional intelligence (EQ) skills training, what should they do about this important fact? The bulk of work at organizations is Read More
3 Reasons Emotional Intelligence is More Critical Now than Ever
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is more in-demand than ever. In 2020 alone, EQ made the top 10 job skills on the World Read More
How to Increase Your Confidence, Connections, & Energy in Virtual Meetings
When we’re in a virtual meeting with someone who is fully engaged and using an array of expressions, we can easily forget we are sitting Read More
Developing Emotional Awareness: What We Can Learn from Children’s Instincts
When Kenneth Hill’s study on wilderness survival rates first came out, his discovery shocked people: Children aged six and under consistently survived more effectively than Read More
3 Tips to Build Social Awareness
A front-line employee with masterful customer skills can seem like they’re performing an act of magic in mask-to-mask communication. How do they intuit what the Read More
Mask-to-Mask Communication: Know What You’re Missing
TalentSmart has tested more than a million people and found that the group of highest performers is filled with people who are high in emotional Read More
10 High EQ Ways to Check in on a Struggling Coworker
Jeannine notices her coworker Monty has seemed off the last two weeks. Monty’s known on the team for being especially stylish, organized, and loud in Read More
Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The Bridge from Diversity to Inclusion
Andrea managed to find a new project management position at a large pharmaceutical company despite the challenging job environment of COVID-19. She had been laid Read More
What You Can Do To Raise Your Team’s Emotional Intelligence
A team’s performance is measured most often by the things they accomplish as a group—a new product developed, a crisis managed, or a patient’s satisfaction. Read More
The Empathy Switch: How to Turn It On When You Don’t Feel Like It.
What makes our empathy wane and what to do about it. In last week’s blog, we discussed how emotions can switch off our empathy for Read More
Two Important Ways Emotions Can Erode Empathy
Empathy is so essential to how we interact as people that even brief lapses can be hurtful to the people we work with and live Read More
Understanding Self-Awareness Inside and Out
In a deck of tarot cards, one card shows a collapsing tower. The collapsing tower represents the danger of building something on a false premise. Read More
The Power of Feedback, Especially Now
Few things are as costly as employees feeling disconnected from where they work, and with the sudden shift to remote work during COVID-19 this is Read More
How to Self-Motivate Through Distraction and Change
Motivation tends to feel like something you either have or don’t you have, you feel or you don’t feel, but research shows that most issues Read More
3 Simple Steps to Manage Overwhelming Emotions
There’s so much pain and raw emotion in our communities and across the world right now. And when our emotions reach a certain degree of Read More
Leading Through a Crisis with Emotional Intelligence
The way a leader shows up to work emotionally sets the tone for everyone around them. So much so, that your boss’s mood can not Read More
How Successful People Beat Stress and Avoid Burnout
In times of extreme change, like we’ve faced the last couple of months, negative emotions begin to multiply and intensify. Emotions like anxiety, fear, and Read More
Why Emotional Intelligence is the Most Critical Skill Needed Right Now
Emotions impact essentially everything we do, think, and say, and for this reason, a whole set of critical business skills are all enhanced by emotional Read More
Why Humor is a Key to Success
“If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.” humor―Robert Frost Whenever tough times sweep in, humor follows close behind. And the last couple of Read More
Two Lessons for Building a Resilient Organization
When the first U.S. patient to contract Ebola was admitted to a Texas hospital in 2014, the hospital had no idea it needed to be Read More
The Importance of Keeping it Light Through Tough Times
Like it has for most people, Covid-19 derailed Levi’s established work-life routine in his Brooklyn apartment. A new part of his rearranging work life was Read More
3 Ways EQ Can Make Your Team More Agile (Continued)
Two weeks ago, Stephanie Keene and Isaac Budmen, a couple from Syracuse, heard that a coronavirus testing center was set to open nearby. Together, Read More
3 Ways EQ Can Make Your Team More Agile
When thinking about team agility, it might help to picture a team of whitewater rafters heading toward class five rapids. The team paddles and maneuvers Read More
5 Things To Do As You Transition To Remote Work
With the coronavirus pandemic, you may have suddenly found yourself working from home bunkered up next to a copiously stocked fridge and a nervous roommate Read More
3 Powerful Ways To Stay Positive
Staying positive is easier said than done, but these 3 tips will help you get on track in adopting a more positive outlook.