In this episode, Dr. Walker is joined by Dr. Steven Stein, a world-renowned clinical psychologist and international best-selling author known for his pioneering work on emotional intelligence and hardiness. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Walker and Dr. Stein explore the nuances of EQ, the importance of hardiness in overcoming adversity, and practical strategies for enhancing your interpersonal skills.
Understanding Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence has gained significant attention over the years as an essential skill for both personal and professional success. Dr. Stein describes EQ as encompassing five core areas:
1. Self-Perception: Understanding both your micro (current emotions) and macro (overall life satisfaction) emotional states.
2. Self-Expression: Transparently communicating your thoughts and feelings, especially important for leaders.
3. Interpersonal Skills: Building and maintaining relationships, which in turn helps leaders inspire and get the best out of their teams.
4. Decision-Making: Leveraging intuition and emotion to make effective decisions.
5. Stress Management: Successfully managing stress and maintaining composure in challenging situations.
Building Emotional Intelligence
Developing emotional intelligence is a continuous process. Dr. Stein highlights that while some individuals might naturally possess high EQ, these skills can indeed be cultivated. For instance, empathy is one core area that can be developed through active listening and genuine curiosity about others’ perspectives.
Dr. Stein also introduces the efficacy of using assessments, like the EQI-2.0, to gauge and track emotional intelligence. Tools like these help individuals and their coaches identify strengths and areas for improvement, setting the stage for targeted development.
The Role of Hardiness
Hardiness, a concept elaborated in Dr. Stein’s newest book co-authored with Paul Bartone, is about more than just resilience. It’s about thriving through adversity by mastering three components:
1. Commitment: Finding a purpose that drives you, whether it’s spiritual belief or national pride.
2. Challenge: Viewing stressful situations as opportunities to learn and grow rather than insurmountable problems.
3. Control: Focusing efforts on aspects within your control, thus conserving energy and reducing stress.
Dr. Stein shares practical strategies for embedding hardiness into your daily life, such as reassessing challenges during tough times and committing to long-term goals.
Applying EQ and Hardiness in the Workplace
Dr. Walker presents a real-world scenario that many HR professionals encounter—a manager named Chewy who uses religious beliefs to resist inclusive leadership principles. Dr. Stein offers actionable advice on how to address such sensitive issues empathetically without compromising on the core values of inclusive leadership. Dr. Stein emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging diverse perspectives while not necessarily subscribing to them.
Furthermore, Dr. Stein underscores the importance of leaders being self-aware and able to compartmentalize personal emotions from professional interactions. This competency prevents negative emotional spillover, fostering a healthier workplace culture.
Dr. Stein’s Unexpected Passions
Beyond his professional pursuits, Dr. Stein lets listeners in on his personal passion for music. As a musician performing with a jazz-rock band, Dr. Stein finds joy and a sense of community in the arts. This passion for music serves as a reminder of the importance of integrating fun and levity into our lives, a concept that resonates deeply with the ethos of the “Lead with Levity” podcast.
Looking Ahead
In closing, Dr. Stein shares his future aspirations, which include ongoing research into emotional intelligence and continually refining tools for better assessing and developing these competencies. His dedication to both his work and his hobbies exemplifies the continuous journey of self-actualization and learning.
Conclusion
Dr. Steven Stein’s conversation with Dr. Heather Walker is a deep dive into the essential skills of emotional intelligence and hardiness. From practical strategies for improving EQ to understanding the powerful role of self-awareness and empathy, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to excel in leadership and personal growth. For more about Dr. Stein’s work, visit stevenstein.com or mhs.com.
Dr. Steven Stein is a world-renowned clinical psychologist, international best-selling author and sought-after speaker, and founder and Executive Chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a publisher of scientifically validated assessments for over 40 years.
A leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, he has worked with the Canadian Forces, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, special units of the Pentagon, FBI Academy, as well as American Express, Air Canada, and Coca-Cola (Mexico), among others.
Dr. Stein has provided psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments to Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, Bachelor Canada, Real Housewives of Toronto, Bachelor in Paradise, Blown Away, and many other reality TV shows.
Dr. Stein co-authored Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals. He is the author of Emotional Intelligence for Dummies, whose second edition launched in April 2023. He also authored The EQ Leader, among others. He co-authored the international best-seller The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success.
He teaches at the Directors College at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, Canada. He is a past Chairperson of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, past President of the Ontario Psychological Association, and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.
