Tag Archives: Emotional Intelligence

The Physics of Burnout: Why “Efficiency” is Costing You Your Best Decisions

Image visually represents the concept of burnout in the corporate world, with elements like exhausted professionals, a broken hourglass / clock symbolizing time pressure, and background elements suggesting mental health awareness. The tone is serious and thought-provoking, reflecting the urgent need for mental health initiatives in the workplace.

In 2023, 42% of workers reported feeling burned out, a statistic that had climbed steadily since 2020. But for senior leaders, the problem isn’t just the number of people burning out; it’s the type of people we are losing. We are seeing seasoned veterans (the ones who usually “power through”) hitting a wall. For years,

Beyond “The Talk”: A Diagnostic Approach to Accountability

You have a team member who isn’t delivering. They seem disengaged, self-interested, or perhaps they are actively dropping the ball. The instinct for most high-performing leaders is frustration. You look at the facts, the reality, and the obvious solution, and you wonder: Why won’t they just do the right thing? When you feel this frustration,

The Self-Aware Leader: The Bridge Between Empathy and Accountability

Looking down at feet pedaling a bicycle, symbolizing the delicate and deliberate act of putting pressure on two sides in rapid succession to achieve balance. Superimposed text reads The Self Aware Leader: Keys to Balancing Empathy & Accountability

🔍 Summary:
Self-aware leaders balance empathy and accountability by noticing their reactions, pausing for perspective, and responding with clarity. This post outlines how to lead with both compassion and firmness—especially when performance is on the line.

Do Jerks Get Hired for Management? A Look at Empathy vs. Toughness

Split-screen image of two men in professional attire, blended at the center. The man on the left is smiling, warmly lit, and positioned in a bright open-plan office, representing empathetic leadership. The man on the right has a neutral expression and stands in a cooler-toned, darker boardroom, representing a tougher management style. A quote appears in the top right: “The best managers aren’t soft or cutthroat—they’re clear, compassionate, and firm.”

Inspired by Dave Anderson’s article at Scarlet Ink. The Leadership Myth Whether we say it aloud or not, the intuitive wisdom about leadership (which clearly grew out of the machoism of the mid-twentieth century) is that tough leaders get ahead, but empathetic ones get ignored. It’s such old thinking that it feels instinctive: forceful personalities

Why Empathy Is the Leadership Advantage Today

Summary This article unpacks key findings from Why Empathetic Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever and explains how leaders can turn research into practical strategies for managing performance with empathy and accountability. Table of Contents Why Do People Care So Much About Empathy in Leadership? This article is about something you probably already know in

Self-Promotion Can Be Both Accountable and Empathetic

A thoughtful team member updates a whiteboard, symbolizing leadership through clarity, accountability, and quiet communication.

If you struggle to talk about your accomplishments without feeling uncomfortable, you’re in good company. For many professionals, self-promotion can feel like boasting, bragging, or stealing attention from others. But there’s a more generous way to think about it: valuable self-promotion lives at the intersection of empathy and accountability. It’s about making your contributions visible

How to Navigate Difficult Conversations with HR Without Losing Your Voice

Summary: Talking to HR about something that matters can feel risky—especially if you’re worried about being dismissed, misunderstood, or seen as “too emotional.” This guide helps you prepare for those conversations with clarity, strategy, and courage—so you can speak up without losing your voice. HR exists to protect the company, not necessarily you. That doesn’t