EQ@Work

In today’s special episode, we're focusing on the power of gratitude and how it can be a game-changer in both our personal and professional lives. As we explore the transformative effects of a grateful mindset, I'll share how embracing gratitude has been instrumental in my journey and how it can help you elevate your own path. So, let’s celebrate together and discover how gratitude can fuel success and fulfilment in every aspect of our lives

if we don’t set boundaries, we sacrifice our emotional and mental well-being. And that’s where Emotional Intelligence comes in. Setting emotional boundaries isn’t just about saying “no” to protect your time—it’s about honouring your emotional needs and creating space for your own peace of mind.

Often, our time-management challengesaren’t just about thetaskswe’redoing—they’reabout the emotions behind them. Are you avoidinga difficult taskbecause it makes you anxious? Are you overcommitting becauseyou’reafraid of letting people down? These emotional drivers can lead to wasted time and energy. 

Purpose gives your passion direction and meaning. It transforms your enthusiasm into a mission. For instance, if you’re passionate about education, your purpose might be to empower underprivileged children through learning. If you love storytelling, your purpose could be to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. If, like me, you are passionate about impacting lives, your purpose might be to guide individuals on their journey of self-awareness and personal growth, empowering them to unlock their true potential and live authentically.

Now that we’ve crossed over the midpoint of the year, it’s important to set aside time for reflection and reinvigoration. That's why today, we're focusing on strategies to not just stay on track but to reignite your drive and ensure you finish the year stronger than ever.

Breaking free from unproductive patterns is not an overnight process. It's a journey that requires patience, persistence, and self-compassion. But remember, every step you take towards self-awareness and intentional action is a step towards a more fulfilling and balanced life.

It might sound strange to say this, but your strengths are not just the things you're good at—they're the traits and skills that energize you, that make you feel alive and fulfilled when you're using them. They can be talents, such as your ability to communicate effectively or solve complex problems, or they can be personal qualities like resilience, empathy, or creativity.

I am learning that managing anxiety is a journey, not a destination.It’sabout finding what works for you and making small, consistent efforts to incorporate those practices into your life. Bydeveloping self-awareness,establishinga healthy routine, andbuilding supportive relationships, you can navigate anxiety more effectively and find yourtranquility. 

Professional boundaries are the physical, emotional, and mental limitsestablishedto protect ourselves from overextending and tomaintaina healthy balance between our work and personal lives. These boundaries are vital because they help us manage stress,maintainfocus, and sustain our energy levels. 

Just like we don't wait for our cars to break down before we take them in for maintenance, we shouldn't wait until we're on the brink of burnout before we prioritize self-care. After all, prevention is always better than cure.

In case you are wondering why Emotional Intelligence is such a hot topic in today's professional landscape, and why I ama self-professed Emotional Intelligence fanatic -let me paint you apicture.. 

As you embrace your potential, remember the words of Maya Angelou: "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." Our journey toward greatness is not just for ourselves—it's for the women who came before us, the women standing beside us, and the women who will follow in our footsteps. Let's illuminate the world with the radiance of our collective brilliance. I am ready – are you?

I want to celebrate you for daring to dream, defying the odds, refusing to be confined by society's limitations. I want to celebrate your resilience, your courage, and your unwavering determination to face adversity head-on and emerge stronger than ever before. You are a phenomenal woman! And I salute you.

Embracing discomfort often involves taking on new challenges, learning new skills, and tackling unfamiliar tasks. This continuous process of growth and learning can significantly enhance professional development, equipping you with the abilities and expertise needed to thrive in your career & achieve your big, hairy, audacious goals.

As a leader, you're not just managing tasks; you're guiding people. And people are complex beings with emotions, dreams, and struggles. When you can tap into those emotions, when you can truly understand where your team members are coming from, you become more than just a boss—you become a beacon of support and understanding.

Life is a journey, and along the way, we encounter countless experiences, emotions, and challenges. I have learned that whilst it's easy to skim the surface, to avoid the uncomfortable truths about ourselves, growth lies beneath the layers of the messy, the uncomfortable, and the challenging.

As you stand at the start of a new year, it's only natural to reflect on the journey you've travelled so far. Life is a series of experiences, and each one, whether positive or challenging, has shaped you into the person you are today. But here's the thing – no matter how the past has unfolded, the beauty of a new beginning lies in your ability to learn from it.

At the core of Christmas lies the profound story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a story of hope, love, and redemption. In the hustle of our lives, it's easy to lose sight of the significance of this event. Beyond the decorations, the presents, and the festive feasts lies the heart of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is rooted in a humble stable in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. It's a story of a miraculous birth, a divine gift to humanity that transcends time and space. The birth of Jesus Christ.

Gratitude is like a secret weapon that has the power to transform our lives. It's not just about saying "thank you" out of politeness; it's about cultivating a mindset that can reshape our entire perspective. So, why is giving thanks at the end of the year so important?

When you take time to look with intentionality at the past & learn from it, it’s a process that will enable you to understand your motivations, values, and the patterns that shape your life. Without reflection, you risk moving forward blindly, missing the invaluable insights that lie in the rearview mirror of your past.

People-pleasing can feel like a virtue as you’re praised for being agreeable and accommodating, but what about the toll it takes on our well-being? The impact is often subtle, creeping into various aspects of our lives, leaving consequences that are more profound than we realize.

The foundation of service excellence lies in the ability to truly understand customers. Emotional Intelligence will empower us as service providers, to tune into the emotions and needs of your customers. By empathizing and actively listening, we can anticipate and respond to those needs effectively. And this level of understanding fosters trust and loyalty

Emotional intelligence is about recognizing the interconnectedness of emotions and actions. This is especially important when dealing with loss – in life and in the workplace. When we understand the emotional impact of a loss on ourselves it helps us to be more intentional about getting the support we need, either from ourselves, our managers, colleagues or from a professional.

As we approach the final quarter of the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on your goals and make a strong push towards accomplishing them. In this episode, I'll share valuable tips and strategies to help you finish the year on a high note and set yourself up for success in the year ahead.

Birthdays are more than just occasions for cake and presents. They mark the passage of time and offer a unique opportunity for personal reflection. While the actual day of one's birth holds its own significance, the entire birthday month can serve as an extended period for introspection and self-discovery. Hello September, Happy Birthday To Me!

Agility is about adaptability - the ability to pivot, to respond swiftly to new challenges and opportunities. It's about acknowledging that change is the norm, and our success lies in our capacity to embrace it. In a landscape where the only constant is change itself, those who can swiftly adjust their strategies, tactics, and approaches are the ones who will thrive.

Understanding our emotions and those of our colleagues can provide valuable insights into why we’re feeling stuck. By identifying our triggers, fears, and motivations, we can gain a deeper understanding of what's holding us back.

When you're emotionally intelligent, you can navigate the complexities of your feelings, which is essential for motivation. Emotional Intelligence enables you to connect with your intrinsic motivations - those deep-seated desires and passions that drive you from within. By understanding what truly resonates with you, you can align your goals with your values and create a powerful source of motivation that doesn't waver.

An EQ Change-Maker is someone who not only harnesses the power of their own emotions for personal & professional change but also influences and inspires positive change in others. It's about being a catalyst for growth, and transformation – a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone & embrace change, motivating others to do the same. Being a change-maker at work can have a significant and positive impact on your professional growth.

Extending yourself grace means embracing self-compassion - allowing yourself to feel, and pause from the ‘doing,’ from the daily hustle to take the time out you need to refuel & recharge. It means giving yourself a break when you fail to achieve the milestones that you’d set. It means giving yourself a breather when the going gets tough & you need a time-out. It also means forgiving yourself when you mess up & fall short of your expectations.

In this EQ@Work Podcast episode, as part of a series to celebrate mental health awareness, Mucha shares strategies for Overcoming Performance Anxiety

I am one of those people who can’t seem to stop “doing…” And for the longest time I wore my doing-ability as a badge of honour, proud of my ability to push down the feelings of overwhelm to deliver on tasks and assignments, validated by the applause or appreciation I received. But I have learned that dealing with the feelings of being overwhelmed every day isn’t sustainable. And trying to just ‘push through’ only leads to something much worse: burnout.

In this episode, as part of the series celebrate mental health awareness month, Mucha shares strategies for managing overwhelm. I share strategies to manage overwhelm.

I didn’t think depression was real until I experienced it for myself. I figured it was one of those ‘western’ ailments – used as an excuse by people who were not strong enough to deal with life.

Boy was I wrong. Mental health challenges are real!

As part of a series of episodes dedicated to mental health awareness month, this episode explores why your feelings matter

Because fear is uncomfortable & often keeps us stuck, blocking us from moving, it’s easy to see fear as the “bad guy” & people often talk about fear as a “bad feeling” or a “negative emotion” – or even weakness. A more useful view is that fear, like all emotions, is a message – insight from yourself to yourself that you need to pay attention to.

Reading the message takes Emotional Intelligence – which is thoughtfully using the data from our feelings to make better decisions.

The current state of global mental health is a cause for concern.  And it seems to be getting worse.  The pandemic, unsurprisingly, generally eroded people’s mental & emotional wellbeing.  But declining mental health goes back before the pandemic started.  The WHO reports a 13% rise in mental health conditions since 2017.  This is a long-standing issue.  And it is a conversation that we need to have more often. 

Our mental health affects how we think and feel about ourselves and others, how we interpret events, how we learn, how we cope with life events and how we develop and sustain relationships. 

Mental health, along with emotional, physical health and social well-being, is an essential component of overall health. 

Over the last few days, I have been struck again by how powerful our emotions are. I found myself in a funk & as I pulled out my EQ arsenal – ready to do battle & get myself back on course, I marvelled at how easy it is to get stuck in emotional patterns that do not serve us well.

Listen to this episode as I share some key insights about the power of emotions

International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate women – and the strides that they have made. It is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Across the globe, women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

As the world spends another day celebrating what women have been able to accomplish regardless of the many barriers they face, I invite you to celebrate you!

On the 3rd Jan, 2023 – my siblings & I laid my mom to rest.

As I reflected on her life, as I prepared to delivery her eulogy, I was struck by the many lessons I had learned from her. My mom was not perfect – which human is, but she remains the biggest influence on my life, and a credit to the woman I am today.

In this 1st episode of a new season, representing the new season of my life, I share 3 lessons that I learned from her life.

The Lord gives & the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord

Self-doubt is characterized by feelings of uncertainty regarding one or more aspects of the self, and it’s normal to experience feelings of doubt when we are faced with new or challenging situations. The challenge is when it becomes debilitating – stopping us in our tracks, causing us to sabotage our progress towards our goals.

Emotional Intelligence can help! Tune into this episode as I share how

‘Imposter Syndrome’ is defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persists regardless of the levels of success achieved. The reality is that for most people who push themselves to succeed & take chances – whether male or female – they will inevitably be plagued by some element of Imposter Syndrome.

Tune in to this episode of the EQ@Work Podcast & learn how Emotional Intelligence help to navigate that persistent feeling of inadequacy, the belief that somehow you do not deserve what you have achieved, or that you got there by fluke, and someone is going to find out!

We’ve all done it at some time or other. We put off starting on a task we dread, we continually delay finishing a particular project, or keep relegating a tough conversation with a colleague around setting boundaries to the bottom of the to-do list. Procrastination is the mother of all demons and can literally stop you in your tracks from achieving all that you desire. Listen in as I share tips on how you can manage the tendancy to procrastination

Mindfulness means paying full attention to something with an open & non-judgmental attitude. It means slowing down to really notice what you're doing.

It has been described as both a skill & a way of being. And research shows that mindfulness has a positive impact for individuals & teams at work.

Listen in as I explore how to get started with mindfulness

As I walked on stage, I whispered a prayer & told my story. The story of how God’s desire for me exceeds my highest expectation. He wants so much more for me! He wants to give me more. He wants to make me more. He wants to transform me into His likeness and His plan for me is limitless!

Tune in to this episode & learn more about my Engage Story

September is my birthday month so I have a lot to give thanks for – but I have learned that and ‘attitude of gratitude’ is just that – an attitude, a mindset that flickers to life even in difficult circumstances when on the face of it, there is nothing much to give thanks for. I like the way Larissa Gomez puts it;

“Being thankful is not always experienced as a natural state of existence, we must work at it, akin to a type of strength training for the heart.”

In this episode, I share tips on how to build your gratitude muscle.

My birthday month is always a time for reflection – reconnecting with purpose, and realigning with my WHY... And at this time every year, I make a vision check. Just as it is important to get our eyes checked regularly to assure that we will be able to see clearly, it is equally as important to do a VISION check to be certain that our goals are on track, and we are moving in alignment with purpose.

In this episode, I explore the importance of reconnecting with your vision.

Happy listening!

While you may see stress as a problem, it’s also an important tool if you pay attention to the signs! The emotions of stress are informative. Stress is like a warning light on your car - it tells you something is at risk.

Listen to this episode & learn 7 'Stress Busting Tips' that will help you to navigate seasons of heightened pressure.

To keep a car going, you have to fill it with petrol, check the oil and water regularly and give the tires some air. But how often do we take the time to reflect on whether we are giving ourselves what we need to flourish and live well?

As we kick off this month of mental health awareness, tune in to the latest episode of the EQ@Work Podcast – The Right Mentality

There’s a fear that if you are an empathic leader, your team will take advantage… For some strange reason we equate empathy with softness. But empathy is NOT being soft! It takes more to respond with empathy than it does to go without.

This episode is all about the seemingly soft skill that drives bottom line results

Emotions are a major force in change. Some feelings RESTRICT or block change. Other feelings DRIVE or push us to change. Are you leveraging the power of PUSH emotions for change?

Listen to this episode of the EQ@Work Podcast & learn how to successfully navigate change

One of the key factors in motivation is emotion: Someone can feel motivated or demotivated, committed or bored, curious or disgusted …. these feelings will shape the person’s behaviour. How do you relight the fire when motivation wanes? When the excitement that fuelled your goal setting at the start of the year is now non-existent? As we close off the 1st quarter, tune in to the latest episode of the EQ@Work Podcast, ReIgniting Motivation, and learn how to get back on track if you've lost your mojo

For every woman in a leadership position, there exists many barriers to success. In order to #breakthebias, and break through these barriers, successful women must ensure that they are prepared for the challenges ahead by having clarity over those barriers, and identifying strategies to overcome them.

As we celebrate International Women's Day this week, I’ve shared my thoughts around how women who have big, hairy, audacious goals can strategise to realise their dreams.

Tune in to the latest episode of the EQ@Work Podcast – Happy Women’s Day!

The easiest way to move from “stuck” into action without struggle is to be authentic and to be in alignment with your authenticity.

Authenticity means that you are connected to your core and that your desires are a true reflection of your inner self and soul. Alignment means that your entire being is in agreement with the goal you want to achieve Authenticity & alignment are the one-two punch for success!

Listen to this episode & learn how to set authentic goals & ensure that you are in alignment with those goals

Great expectations create great results. When you expect the best, it will become a directional mechanism that will guide you to seeking out and finding what you expect. The difference between great expectations and weak wishes is nothing but a mindset; a mindset that can make the difference between living a life of fulfilment and one of desperation and frustration. Check it out this episode of the EQ@Work Podcast, and learn more about nurturing your expectations.

For most people, New Year’s resolutions just don’t work. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton found that 23% of people quit their resolution after just one week. And only 19% of individuals are actually able to stick to their goals long term.

So, what can we do as we look at the year ahead? And consider our plans & goals?

Lay down a vision! A BIG vision. One that encompasses your passion in life and the gifts you have come to share. A vision for 2022 that excites and inspires you. That vision, combined with your dedication to making it a reality, can change your life.

Listen to the first episode of the new year, Episode 30 – Make The Vision Plain

Tis the season. As we down our tools in preparation for the holiday season & look back on the year that was, it’s easy to see what didn’t come together, what we failed to achieve.

But the holidays for me are a time to give thanks.

I haven’t always been very good at taking time to smell the roses, and celebrate the wins – however small but it’s a practice that my EQ journey has taught me to embrace. As a goal-oriented individual, I tend to focus very quickly on the next achievement, the next milestone, but I am learning to use the holidays to look back & give thanks.

Listen to the latest episode of my EQ@Work Podcast – Episode 29: 'Tis The Season #eqpodcast #eqsuperpower #eqforafrica #emotionalintelligence #emotionalintelligencecoach #africaneqrevolution

The mind of a champion leverages the #eqsuperpower of self-awareness, which is where the journey to excellence begins, developing a deeper understanding of who you are & what you think, beneath the surface, so that you can begin to make the changes necessary so that you can achieve your career goals.

Listen to the latest episode of my EQ@Work Podcast – Episode 28: Mind Of A Champion

#eqpodcast #eqsuperpower #eqforafrica #emotionalintelligence #emotionalintelligencecoach #africaneqrevolution

On the surface it seems an odd idea that you could actually be anything other than who you really are.  But from the time we can talk, we’re being programmed to “fit in”.  We find ourselves conforming in order to please the people we love, and who love us.

But sometimes that means that you have to suppress what you know is the real person inside.

And yet, beyond your relationship with Christ, your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you’ll ever have.  Without a healthy relationship with yourself, it’s practically impossible to have healthy relationships with anyone else, and thrive at work.

Listen in to this episode - Connecting With Yourself, if you’re ready to get reacquainted with someone you haven’t seen in a while – yourself – here’s 3 insights that my help.

2021 was supposed to be different. We did battle with the pandemic in 2020, and closed the year feeling victorious, ready for the new normal but as we see the year swiftly coming to a close, we find ourselves in the same boat - battling an invisible enemy who continues to wreak havoc in our lives! Tune into Episode 26 of the EQ@Work Podcast, and learn why Emotional Intelligence just the skill required for this 'Whole New World'

There are all kinds of strategies, ways of thinking, patterns of behavior and practical tips for improving your life and feeling better about yourself, but they're all redundant if the foundation isn't there. Inner confidence, powered by your knowledge of 'whose you are' is the key to it all.

Tune into episode 25 of the EQ@Work Podcast, 'Building Inner Confidence' - where I explore how to build your confidence muscle.

As part of the celebrations for Women’s month in SA, I was in invited to speak on a platform that has become very dear to my heart – the Virtual Prayer Experience with Evangelist Itu Maboye & his co-hosts Evangeslist Ben Mwamba & Pastor Michael Maforo. We had such an amazing experience in conversation & prayer but such as it is when time is not unlimited, I didn’t get an opportunity to share everything that I had prepared.

Listen into Episode 24 of the EQ@Work Podcast where I share the unabridged version of my thoughts.

Sister - God is the one who gave you your emotions. And He cares about how you feel. When you don’t pay attention, you are not utilising those emotions as they were designed. They say what you don’t know won’t hurt you but in EQ speak, we know that what you don’t know will surely derail you. When you ignore or supress your emotions, they have a tendency to bleed out in ways that are ultimately more harmful.

Are you one of those people who can’t seem to stop “doing?” – with a ever ending to-do list, and days made up of a marathon of tasks, activities & meetings that seem to never end? Tune into this episode of the EQ@Work Podcast where I talk about battling burnout.

I fell in love with EQ on a cold Tuesday morning in Johannesburg South Africa....

Up until then, we had been flirting - I was convinced EQ was something I needed to learn so that I could teach others, but I discovered that I needed it for me.

I fell in love. Deeply, irrevocably & that moment changed my life forever.

In VUCA times, how can leaders cultivate an environment of high performance?
Daniel Goleman puts it well;
'Gifted leadership happens occurs when head & heart – feeling & thought meet.  These are the two winds that allow a leader to soar'

In this episode, I share insights on how EQ can help you to be a leader worth following

The outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 last year impacted us in ways that we could never have imagined.  And we are still reeling from the aftermath.

We lost love ones, lost jobs, lost opportunities, and to some extent we may have even lost traces of ourselves – and each loss cut us to the deep.

As we cast our minds forwards, and look ahead to the remaining 3 quarters of 2021, we find ourselves gripped by emotions that threaten to hold us hostage, impacted by the lingering fears & anxieties…. 

When life get’s bumpy, can Emotional Intelligence help?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' 

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. 

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 - Marianne Williamson 

I almost allowed my fears to keep me stuck, and hinder my progress towards my goals.  
Find out how I got unstuck in the latest episode of my EQ@Work Podcast – Finding My Mojo

An ode to the brave women out there doing their thing…

Be authentically you…
That’s the best gift you can give to the world
Your truthful authentic self.  
Not the ‘You’ you think the world expects
Or the ‘You’ society seems to say you should be 
Just be you…
Unapologetically, boldly, bravely you
Sharpen your skills, invest in yourself 
Step outside of your comfort zone & grow
Choose to challenge the status quo
But only to be a better version of the you that lies within
The you the master sees, the you He created you to be
So be you, and do you
You are not an imposter
You are enough
As you…

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I celebrate the fierce & fabulous women out there, and share my thoughts on some essential butterfly magic

In the recent edition of the EQ@Work: Executive Thoughts Series, our guest Thokozani Unyolo shared a learning experience that she believed had a profound impact on her career.

When asked about a failure that she learned from, Thoko talked about a time when she failed to showcase herself.

Many African women struggle with self-promotion as a result of the cultural and sociological myths that we’ve grown up with since emerging from the womb—about how we should behave, how we should look, how we should think.

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I explore the concept of finding your ‘I’

We waste so much time with mediocrity, playing it safe. 

Many individuals will spend their entire lives there, never venturing outside to see what they could have or might be capable of achieving.

But that cannot be what God intended for us. 

I know it’s not what he intended for me.

The dictionary defines:

Audacious as ‘showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.’  
It sums up my current state of mind. 

Audacious – ready to follow my lion into a pit! And this means I will need to step – actually live, and take up permanent residence outside of my comfort zone.

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I explore how to chase your lion

2020 taught us that the year can go haywire, and that goals can get blown out of the water – so how do you make plans & set goals when the future is unclear?

As you look ahead into your tomorrow, and plan for the weeks or months ahead, remember the lessons learned in your 2020.

I really do believe that Emotional Intelligence is a game changer.  It is just the skill that we will need to successfully navigate 2021 and beyond.

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I look at how emotions power our movement forward

Perfection is typically an external standard, and holding yourself to this unrealistic measure is rooted in chasing an idea of other people or society’s expectations, and you will miss the mark ever single time.  Excellence on the other hand, is rooted in making progress, pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I explore the myth of perfection as a  growth strategy.

"Do you want to develop greater EQ?  Connect with yourself first!"
 Key insights from my guest Amani Shayo in this episode, where we discuss how millennials - and all the other generations can leverage EQ at work. 

Amani is a Human Capital enthusiast. Currently working with Empower Limited, a dynamic Human Capital Consulting firm in Tanzania, Amani is passionate about people, innovation and strategic thinking.  He also thinks Emotional Intelligence is a very big deal! 

Have you ever considered the fact that how you show up at work is heavily influenced by what lies beneath the surface?  And these thoughts & feelings, your values and identity could actually manifest themselves in negative ways without you even realising it?

In this week’s EQ@Work Podcast, I explore the power of self-awareness.  

Research shows a significant relationship between the emotional intelligence and job stress. As an individual’s emotional intelligence increases, his ability to cope with stress increases as well. In other words, those who have higher emotional intelligence experience less stress. 

In this week’s EQ@Work Podcast episode, I explore how to navigate stress

They say life begins at 40.  From my experience, having turned 40 a few years ago – I won’t say how many exactly, 40 is when you become comfortable in your own skin.  Comfortable enough to say no, and live life on your own terms, rather than the expectations of others or society.

“No” – it’s a small word that packs a lot of power. And it’s not a word that has always come so easily for me.

In this episode, I explore the power of 'NO'

Adaptability is an EQ competency that entails having the flexibility to handle change, balance multiple demands, and adapt to new situations with fresh ideas. An individual who is adaptable can meet challenges as they arise and adjust strategy or style based on what is needed most.

Professionals with the ability to adapt to new and challenging environments have a clear advantage when it comes to growing & progressing in the workplace. It is your ability to pivot that will propel you forward. 

In this episode, I explore the powerful skill of adaptability

Optimism isn’t blindly hoping for the best. In fact, being “optimistic” in a passive, naïve sense – without real effort – would only get us deeper into trouble. The type of optimism that will help us is this skill of optimism: intentionally practicing an optimistic mindset. This effortful optimism is about framing adversity in a healthy, realistic way and taking ownership of finding solutions – exactly what we need right now.

Optimism is a learned “habit of mind” and it predicts many desirable outcomes – success at work, freedom from anxiety and depression, stronger relationships & physical well-being.

In this episode, I share Martin Seligman's the 3 secrets of optimism, and how you can leverage the skill of optimism to thrive at work

"Emotional Intelligence is a MUST HAVE skill!"
So says my first ever guest on the EQ@Work Podcast, @Tessie Omulo.

Emotional Intelligence is a learnable skill.  That means it doesn't really matter where you are right now - as long as you are willing to learn, and apply what you have learned, then EQ is a skill that you can develop.

In this episode, I have a  vibrant conversation about EQ, resilience & millennials with Tessie Omulo.

Tessie is a communication specialist currently working at Centonomy Ltd as a PR & Communications Manager and is also the Director of the Female Founders Kenya community. She is passionate about youth participation in driving change and, is the one human being who cares too much about coffee.

If there is one thing we can be certain about, it is the fact that COVID has brought changes – at work, at home and even with our finances and we will have to adapt to them. We often fail to change as a result of the disguised benefits of staying the way we are (we do not admit this to ourselves.) We would rather stay in an uncomfortable known situation than change to a more comfortable, but uncertain, situation.

How can we learn to better navigate change?

My brain is wired to pick up on rational data. I’m the kind of individual who walks into a room and notices that the chairs are not aligned, and that the pictures on the wall are not straight.  I can very easily miss out on emotional data.  I can very easily miss out on the tension that lies beneath the surface when the team is unhappy with a decision that I have made, or how a client has handled them. 

This is the way that I am wired.

But here's the thing - successful individuals understand that default settings aren't necessarily sufficient to get you to where you want to go. Successful people understand that they must practice cognitive flexibility moving from what comes naturally to what may feel uncomfortable because the situation requires it.

Practising Emotional Intelligence allows us to take back our power - to look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest about where we are whilst at the same time be optimistic about where we are going.

In this episode, I explore the power of naming our emotions.

 A lot of who we are unconsciously impacts the choices we make.  It never ceases to amaze me how the very things that my mother did that drove me crazy as a child, are the very things I find myself doing with my children. Why is that?

Emotions are chemicals released in our brains in response to our perceptions about the world. Those perceptions were shaped as a result of my journey – a little DNA, a dash of upbringing, a smattering of socialisation and a cup of life experiences all combining to create my default, a default that – in some cases, I have had to unlearn.

Tune in as I share the EQ lessons that I have learned, lessons that have been somewhat counter-intuitive, going against the grain of my default – the wiring that can cause me to react unconsciously to external stimuli. 

What unconscious patterns do you need to unlearn?

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. Research shows that people with high EI have greater mental health, job performance, and leadership skills.
So how can we practice EQ?

Tune into this episode where I share 6 simple tips highlighted by Joshua Freedman, the CEO of Six Seconds - the largest global EQ network - that you can use to flex that EQ muscle at work!

Auto-pilot, our often-preferred state, doing things the way that we always do them can be a really big hindrance to achieving goals.  For many of us, business as usual – in the very unusual events of 2020 brought us to our knees.

We needed to be agile.  To see our emotions – even those that made us feel uncomfortable, as tools that were given to us to help us make sense of the world and read between the line. And to then –go beyond our conditioned or pre-programmed responses, and choose better.

In this week's EQ@Work Podcast, I explore the idea of facing forward with boldness, the theme for our recent EQ Lunch ‘n Learn

We all kicked off 2020 with high expectations. The trending hashtag was #20plenty as professionals across the globe created their vision boards & set their new year’s resolutions – mapping out how exactly to realise that ‘plenty’

Then along came COVID…

How can EQ help us to maintain mental & emotional wellbeing?