The EQ Movement - Webinar Series

Join The EQ Movement, our live webinar series, to learn valuable EQ skills and insights, discuss current workplace trends, and share best practices with industry experts, thought leaders and experienced learning and development trainers.

When Leadership Gets Hard

When Leadership Gets Hard: How Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Respond in Tough Moments

9:00 am PDT/12:00 pm EDT
June 25, 2026

Hard moments are unavoidable in leadership. The hard conversation you’ve been putting off, the team that’s lost trust, the system that’s burning people out, the decision that has no clean answer. Most leaders respond by going harder, getting faster, or pushing through.

But what if those moments aren’t obstacles to your leadership? What if they’re the whole job?

In this session, TalentSmartEQ’s Maggie Sass, PhD, and Ross Blankenship, PhD will be joined by a panel of leaders from across industries and levels of leadership to share real experiences of friction, and what they’ve learned from navigating it. Together, they’ll draw on insights from the upcoming book, Friction, to explore what emotionally intelligent leadership actually looks like when things get hard.

No matter where you lead or what you lead, friction shows up. This conversation will bring that reality to life — and give you practical ways to respond with intention rather than instinct.

You’ll learn:

  • Why leadership is emotional work, and what that actually means in practice
  • How friction shows up inside you, between people, and in the systems around you
  • What leaders across different contexts have in common when the pressure is on
  • Practical EQ strategies for navigating hard moments without going numb, blowing up, or shutting down

If you lead people, teams, or change, this session will give you a new lens on the moments that feel hardest — and the skills to meet them more effectively.

On Demand EQ Webinars

Navigating Change: How Organizations Can Prepare and Support Their Employees

Explore key insights from The State of EQ Report on workplace change, the challenges of organizational preparedness, and the essential role of emotional intelligence and change management strategies in helping employees navigate uncertainty.

Executive Overview: Transforming Law Enforcement Leadership, Officer Well-Being, and Community Relations through EQ

Join us an in-depth webinar, “Executive Overview: Transforming Law Enforcement Leadership, Officer Well-Being, and Community Relations through EQ,” where we’ll focus on TalentSmartEQ's groundbreaking EQ in Policing training program, which is redefining the way law enforcement approaches leadership, communication, and community relations.

Boost Patient Care and HCAHPS Scores with Emotional Intelligence

Join us for this exclusive webinar, “Boost Patient Care and HCAHPS Scores with Emotional Intelligence,” where we’ll focus on how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can help to improve patient satisfaction, foster collaboration, and enhance leadership.

The 2025 State of EQ Report: Priorities, Challenges, and the Power of Relationships

Join us for this kickoff webinar, “The 2025 State of EQ Report: Priorities, Challenges, and the Power of Relationships,” where we’ll dive into the key insights from the 2025 State of EQ Report, offering a comprehensive overview of the top priorities and challenges organizations face today.

How to Stay Healthier in Mind, Body & Spirit

TalentSmartEQ explores the essential role emotional intelligence plays in mental and physical health with two guests from Air National Guard.

What’s Your EQ? Assess, Improve, and Grow in the New Year

Join us for an exclusive webinar, “What’s Your EQ? Assess, Improve, and Grow in the New Year,” where you’ll learn how to read our Emotional Intelligence Appraisal results to assess your current EQ and learn how to create a development plan to make this your best year yet.

Learn How to Embrace Change & Tackle Tough Conversations with EQ

Whether you're looking to enhance your ability to adapt in times of change or improve your communication in high-stakes conversations, take this opportunity to learn how EQ can transform your approach to daily challenges and drive success.

Learn to Build Resilience and Listening Skills Through Emotional Intelligence

Take this opportunity to learn how emotional intelligence can enhance your ability to listen deeply, foster stronger connections, and build resilience to navigate workplace challenges.

Emotional Intelligence & Workplace Performance

Join us to learn how the foundational skill of EQ has immediate and positive impact on key competency areas that are critical to workplaces.

EQ in Action: Navigating Workplace Challenges with Emotional Intelligence

Applying an EQ lens to develop these critical skills is important for achieving individual success, building high-performing teams, and driving the health and growth of your business.

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