RUM & EQ

This week, I welcome Evan Watkins, an expert in emotional
intelligence, who helps us unravel a subject that truly resonates
with me - emotional intelligence in everyday life!


Imagine that your career is sailing smoothly, or perhaps it is
facing turbulence with unforeseen changes like a layoff or a
surprising new opportunity. How do we navigate such unpredictable
turns? Evan helps us break down how emotional intelligence,
described simply as the "intelligent use of your emotions," can
serve as our compass.


He introduces us to the RUM model - Recognize, Understand, and
Manage - which provides a framework for emotionally intelligent
decisions in both life and work. Think of it not as your typical
cocktail but as your emotional cocktail, blending self-awareness,
self-management, social awareness, and relationship management!


If you Google "how to control your anger," you will see 1.2
million search results, but Evan humorously points out how many
of these just recycle the same age-old advice. Instead, emotional
intelligence teaches us to channel emotions like anger, not just
control them, harnessing their energy positively in workplaces
and beyond. Evan and I discuss intriguing examples such as Max
Scherzer, the baseball pitcher whose intentional and controlled
anger powers his performance.


We also would be remiss to not talk about AI. As we pivot into
the rapidly advancing world of technology, Evan shares his
musings on how AI and emotional intelligence may intertwine.
They’re more intersectional than we often think, with
emotion-aware avatars and other tools changing the communication
game.


I hope that you will dive into this episode filled with wisdom
and wit, insights, and practical tips that encourage us all to
focus on the human touch in an increasingly digital world.


In summary, Evan and I discuss how emotional intelligence can be
developed to effectively take on both expected and unexpected
life and career changes. Evan emphasizes the practical
applications of emotional intelligence in handling workplace
dynamics and anger management, while also exploring its
intersection with AI technology to enhance communication and
interaction.


Episode Highlights: [2:45] - Evan lives in
Oceanside with his wife, a professor at UCSD, and their border
collie Wendell; he surfs daily and is a writer shopping his
second book![4:26] - Emotional intelligence involves recognizing,
understanding, and managing emotions to improve life and
relationships.[7:41] - Soft skills, such as emotional
intelligence, are important for generations affected by limited
socialization during COVID.[9:05] - Emotional intelligence is
learnable; practicing key skills post-COVID can help improve
relationships and workplace dynamics.[11:16] - LEADx offers a
free, validated emotional intelligence assessment![13:28] - Evan
argues that anger, when managed, can improve focus, persistence,
and resilience, as shown in various studies.[15:48] - Evan
discusses how Max Scherzer uses anger as motivation but ensures
it doesn’t overwhelm him, balancing focus and control.[17:34] -
Recognizing emotions in real-time can reduce their intensity and
improve conflict resolution.[20:46] - Emotional intelligence is
essential for adapting to rapid AI advancements, blending with
technical skills effectively.[22:47] - Evan points out how future
emotional intelligence tools could help refine tone in
communication.[25:30] - The LEADx book offers strategies and
assessments which help readers develop emotional intelligence and
track progress.[28:37] - Evan explains how nudges based on
assessments offer tailored strategies for personal and team
development in real-time contexts.[31:12] - In closing, emotional
intelligence involves recognizing, understanding, and managing
emotions to enhance relationships and interactions.


Links & Resources:




Gary Danoff LinkedIn




Evan Watkins LinkedIn


LEADX Website


LEADx’s EQ Assessment



Kevin Kruse & Evan Watkins - Emotional Intelligence (A LEADx
Guide)