In this episode, Dr. Kristin Neff discusses the importance of self-compassion, particularly in the context of burnout. She shares her personal journey and how her experiences shaped her understanding of self-compassion. The conversation explores various aspects of self-compassion, including its role in managing stress, the significance of common humanity, and the challenges faced by caregivers. Dr. Neff also introduces the concept of 'backdraft' in self-compassion, emphasizing the need for a gentle approach to healing. The episode concludes with insights on the diverse approaches to self-compassion and the importance of self-care.

Dr. John Demartini, a renowned human behavior expert, shares his insights on emotional intelligence and self-mastery. He emphasizes the importance of living according to our highest values and prioritizing our actions accordingly. Dr. Demartini explains that emotional intelligence is the ability to govern our emotions and see both sides of a situation objectively. He encourages individuals to ask empowering questions and challenge their interpretations of reality. By doing so, we can develop our executive function and achieve self-mastery. Dr. Demartini also discusses the role of resilience and training in mastering emotional intelligence.

Tim Whitmire, co-founder of F3 Nation, shares his journey and the principles behind F3. Tim talks about his work as a leadership coach, helping teams align their objectives and work together effectively. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and mission, as well as a strong team dynamic, in order to achieve success. Tim also discusses how F3 is a national network of peer-led workouts for men that focuses on fitness, fellowship, and faith. He explains how F3 started as a small workout group and grew into a movement with thousands of participants across the US and other countries. The key to F3's success is the sense of community and friendship that develops among the participants. Tim also emphasizes the importance of personal growth and making a positive impact in the world. He discusses the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in both personal and professional settings. He shares his experience with F3, a men's workout group that focuses on fitness, fellowship, and faith, and how it fosters a sense of community and support. 

In this episode of the Emotional Intelligence podcast, Ismail Qadry & Sameer Aleem explore the intricate balance between asserting authority and maintaining emotional intelligence as a leader. They share personal experiences and insights into the challenges of leadership, discussing how to lead effectively without being overbearing. The importance of clear communication, the power of understanding and explaining the "why" behind tasks, and the need to set boundaries and expectations while still being empathetic and supportive. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned leader, this episode provides valuable advice on navigating the complexities of leadership with emotional intelligence.

Jasmine Kafka, a seasoned leadership coach, shares her approach to fostering resilient and engaging cultures. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and thought leadership in empowering professionals and teams to reach their highest potential. Jasmine works with individual leaders and small teams, helping them overcome barriers, improve communication, and build collaboration. She believes in creating a culture by design rather than by default and encourages leaders to involve their teams in shaping the culture. Jasmine also highlights the significance of vulnerability, mindfulness, and authentic conversations in building a positive work culture.

In Episode 40, Ismail and Sameer explore the balance that leaders need to strike between helping their team members improve and knowing when to let go. It emphasizes the importance of investing time in employee development while also being willing to make tough decisions when necessary.

The conversation highlights the need for leaders to assess whether performance issues are due to a lack of skill or will, and to provide appropriate training and support. It also discusses the impact of poor performers on team morale and the importance of clear expectations and accountability. The conversation concludes by emphasizing the value of recognizing and leveraging individual strengths.

In Episode 39, Ismail and Sameer had the pleasure of hosting our first repeat guest on The Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast, David Schectman, a Partner at Evolution. David enlightened the audience with stories from his personal past where his personal belief in being authentic always, ended up hurting others with unintended consequences he never saw coming.

From these experiences, David began to explore the concept of ‘authenticide’, a term David defines as: An ill-timed or ill-conceived act of disclosure that ends a meaningful relationship. Episode 39 will dive deep into ‘authenticide’ seeking to understand what causes it and how to avoid it.

In Episode 38, Ismail and Sameer speak from the heart as they share their personal struggles with stress, anxiety as it relates to work and life. Over the years, the EQ Gents have learned how to manage through these overwhelming emotions and in some cases even used it as fuel for positive outcomes they’ve experienced along the way.

In Episode 37, Ismail and Sameer had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Ron Stotts and learn about his unique approach to bringing the best out of the leaders he works closely with. As a transformational guide, Ron has spent the last five decades exploring the deepest caves and soaring heights of both personal and spiritual journeys. As a former Executive VP at AT&T, Ron left with a mission to develop leaders who did not fall victim to fear-based culture which caused them to play small and limit their lives. Ron has supported thousands of people on their journey as they’ve confronted and overcome their most difficult challenges and developed their greatest potential.

Summary:

In Episode 36, Ismail and Sameer take on a question many managers are asking themselves these days… “Are the younger members of our workforce more susceptible to getting their feelings hurt than generations past?” The answer is likely yes. This episode will take a deep dive into why this may be the case. And how developing our non-verbal communication and EQ skills will be the ticket to improving how messages can be better delivered and received by the Gen Z workforce.

Topics:

• Setting the stage by asking the question are our younger workers offended more easily?

• Factors contributing to generational sensitivities

• The impact of social media and digital communication

• Seeking mentorship for perspective and guidance

• Improving communication to facilitate greater understanding

• Acknowledging the complexity and inviting feedback

Dr. Carla Fowler, an MD PhD and executive coach, shares her background and journey into executive coaching. She discusses her interest in performance and achievement from a young age and how it led her to start her own coaching practice. Dr. Fowler defines performance science as the collection of ideas and research that help individuals achieve their goals. She highlights two key principles of performance science: brutal focus and cultivating power. Brutal focus involves translating dreams into actionable goals and identifying the most important tasks to drive progress. Cultivating power involves developing the ability to start and sustain efforts towards a goal, as well as continuously improving and iterating on one's approach. In this conversation, Carla Fowler, MD PhD, discusses the principles of performance science and how they can be applied to personal and professional growth. The 90-90-90 principle emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and starting early on the journey to success. Overcoming imposter syndrome and fear of failure is crucial for taking action and achieving goals. Reflecting on past challenges can provide insights into what works and what doesn't. Brutal focus involves prioritizing the most important tasks and not getting caught up in perfectionism. Learning to relish uncertainty is key to embracing growth and new opportunities.

In Ep. 34 The EQ Gents had the absolute privilege to sit down with James Lawrence, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy, a company whose mission is to help business leaders accelerate company performance at scale. Through Happy’s AI-based technology platform, companies have found a solution that supercharges communication, collaboration, and productivity.

Join us as James dives into a myriad of very relevant and important topics with the Gents, starting with his own personal journey as a rising founder and ceo, and how he recommends companies solve the challenges they face when it comes their people day in and day out.

In this episode, Sameer and Ismail deep dive into a universal issue that folks at all levels of an organization deal with on a daily basis. That is dealing with difficult coworkers, whether its your boss, peer or subordinate, a difficult coworker can cause leaders a tremendous amount of stress as they navigate their day to day work life.

Ismail and Sameer will share personal anecdotes and most common reasons why difficult employees often end up winning in the battle between whats right for the individual and whats right for the larger organization.

Episode 33 is packed with useful tips and tricks on overcoming the challenges of dealing with difficult coworkers through empathy, understanding, and flexing your emotional intelligence to deescalate your next difficult encounter.

In this episode, Sameer and Ismail had a fantastic conversation with Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick! Grant definitely lived up to his name by bringing an infectious energy and a ton of useful insights to share with our audience. ‘Upbeat’, as he commonly goes by, is an author, leadership & team expert, professional musician, keynote speaker, and Managing Director of YES (Your Empowering Solutions), a boutique HR consultancy.

Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick has been a resident of Singapore and Asia for over 25 years and has consulted and spoke at 100+ Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 clients spanning 45 countries and 6 continents.

Sameer and Ismail were very lucky to have Ani Naqvi on our podcast this week! Ani, has had 4 near-brushes with death including a cancer diagnosis, and surviving one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history, the Asian Tsunami of 2004. Ani has leveraged these experiences to find her true purpose in life, and is now determined to help others become their best self and live their best life.

In this conversation, Sameer and Ismail discuss the significant role emotional intelligence plays in a leader’s ability to make good decisions.

Ultimately, decision-making is an art that requires the proper mix of data, rationality, and a little bit of good old-fashioned gut-instinct. In this episode, the EQ Gents will dive into how enhancing your EQ will transform you into boss decision-maker.

In this conversation, Sameer and Ismail speak with Kachelle Kelly, an expert in emotional intelligence (EQ) and leadership. They discuss the importance of EQ and its adoption in various communities, particularly the black community. Kachelle introduces the concept of a fifth element in EQ specifically for the black community. They explore the impact of trauma on emotional intelligence and the challenges faced by black individuals in the workplace. The conversation highlights the need for understanding and support for the black community and the role of EQ in bridging cultural differences.

This conversation explores the difference between idealism and optimism and how they interplay in leadership. Idealism is defined as a belief in perfect possibilities and striving for utopia, while optimism is defined as expecting the best even in challenging times. The conversation emphasizes the importance of balancing idealism and optimism to be an effective leader. It discusses how idealism can motivate teams by providing a grand vision, while optimism can motivate teams by instilling positive energy. The impact of idealism and optimism on decision-making is also explored, highlighting the need for a realistic approach. The role of emotional intelligence in bridging the gap between idealism and optimism is discussed, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and empathy. The conversation concludes with a call to action for leaders to reflect on their own approach and understand the perspectives of others.

In EP 27 of the Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast the EQ Gents had the pleasure of sitting down with Adrian Koehler, leadership engagement expert and senior partner at the executive coaching firm, Take New Ground. Adrian coaches execs and entrepreneurs in the art of science of leadership for themselves, their teams, and clients to create new, unprecedented results and experience fulfillment in their work.

Adrian’s constant pursuit of people and experiences that push him closer to the edge is the way he has always lived his life. His diverse career history and the anecdotes he shares in this episode are evidence of his unique approach to coaching.

During this episode we hit on a bunch of really interesting topics like:

• The Role of Crisis in Personal Growth

• Outward Mindset and Leadership

• The Influence of Past Experience

• The Fear of Vulnerability

• The Journey to Authenticity

In EP26 the EQ Gents dig into a well-known inhibitor for many aspiring leaders looking to propel their careers. A concept or term that was popularized by Dr. Valerie Young’s research in the 1970’s called ‘Imposter Syndrome’ or ‘Imposterism’.

In this episode, our co-hosts will take a deep dive into Imposter Syndrome, specifically how it shows up and detrimental impacts unchecked Imposter Syndrome can have on one’s mental health and career performance. No doubt, the EQ Gents have had their own personal battles with Imposter Syndrome which they share throughout this enlightening episode.