August, 2025 | 5min read
Emotions are always in play whether in leadership, with colleagues or even family/friends.
We’re managing our own.
We’re adjusting to others’.
And we’re still trying to move the conversation forward or solve the problem in front of us.
Ever had your emotions get out of control?
Ever seen someone else’s?
What’s the impact when this happens on your team?
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is Peak Performance
EI isn’t “fluff” – it’s peak performance for leaders and teams.
In fact, emotionally intelligent teams ARE high-performing teams.
They communicate better, adapt faster and handle challenges without letting emotions derail progress.
So good – right??
EI Training in Action
During an Emotional Intelligence training with the Town of Tillsonburg, we covered:
- An emoji icebreaker to set the tone
- Practical teaching on emotional intelligence in leadership
- Worksheets on self-awareness, identifying emotional triggers, asking better questions, owning situations and regaining control
- A group pop quiz
- And much more!
Here’s what one participant shared after the session:
“Parm was a great presenter/trainer, and I think he did a great job! The mix of instruction, practical examples, and interaction was perfect. While I was familiar with all of the material, it was still good to get a refresher and the training is important for all managers/leaders.”
Anchoring: A Tool to Manage High Emotions
One simple but powerful EI strategy I shared is called Anchoring.
Anchoring is when you say, do, or think about something that brings you back to your baseline – your emotional centre.
It could be:
- A meaningful phrase, prayer, or mantra (for some people and dealing with their emotions, you need BIG prayer 😀)
- A physical gesture (like pressing your thumb and forefinger together)
- A visualization that calms you instantly
Anchoring helps leaders manage emotions at work in a more intentional, emotionally intelligent way .. especially during tense conversations.
Turning Training into Action: The EI Playbook
After every leadership development training, I create something called a Playbook.
This isn’t just another (strategy) document that collects dust. It’s a practical, action-oriented guide that captures the best strategies from the session and turns them into repeatable habits.
Here are a few action items for you to consider and test with your team(s):
- “How do you feel today?” Emoji Poster: Display as a visual reminder and encourage team members to share their current emotion during check-ins.
- Focus on One EI Dimension: Choose one area (e.g., self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills) to work on for two weeks, track real-world applications and share insights with colleagues.
- Observe and Adjust: In your next meeting, consciously adjust your tone, body language, and word choice. Here are some ways to manage assertiveness and approachability which might help.
- Loop for Understanding: Summarize and validate what others say in your 1:1 conversations this week.
Your Next Step
If you’d like to explore these Playbook actions or bring emotional intelligence training to your leadership team, let’s connect!
Because when leaders get better at managing emotions, teams get better at EVERYTHING! Emotional intelligence IS peak performance!
How do you manage your emotions?
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