Episode 77: Emotional Intelligence for Teams: What Every Leader Should Know

In this episode of the HRDQ-U In Review Podcast, host Sarah sits down with leadership and organizational culture expert Devin C Hughes to unpack the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) in team dynamics. Drawing on 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions, Devin shares why technical skills alone aren’t enough to succeed in leadership—and how understanding emotions is the real game-changer.

Devin defines emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both our own emotions and those of others. He challenges the myth that we’re “thinking machines that feel,” asserting instead that humans are “feeling machines that think,” and explains why this matters for leaders who want to build high-performing, connected teams.

Together, Sarah and Devin break down the five key components of EQ—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—and show how each one contributes to trust, communication, and psychological safety at work. They also dive into the red flags of low EQ, like chronic miscommunications, conflict avoidance, and blame-shifting, which can erode team morale.

Listeners will walk away with practical strategies for staying emotionally regulated under pressure, including the five-second pause technique, naming emotions to tame them, and micro-moments of recovery to recharge throughout the day.

Chapters:

• Introduction and Background ‎00:00:00
• Defining Emotional Intelligence ‎00:02:25
• Five Components of EQ ‎00:03:29
• Signs of Low EQ in Teams ‎00:06:36
• Practical Strategies for Emotional Regulation ‎00:10:11

Action Items:

• Implement daily self-check-ins with three key reflection questions. ‎00:12:44
• Encourage active listening and reduce multitasking during meetings. ‎00:07:41
• Create space for honest feedback and open dialogue. ‎00:09:06
• Build micro-moments of recovery into the workday. ‎00:11:39
• Practice the five-second pause technique in high-pressure situations. ‎00:10:24
• Watch the full webinar here

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that will help you harness the power of emotional intelligence to lead more effectively and create a healthier, more connected team culture.

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