Motivational Mondays: Conversations with Leaders Unlocking Emotional Intelligence (Feat. Dr. Jenny Woo)
Dr. Woo’s personal journey in emotional intelligence began at a young age. As an immigrant to the United States who didn’t know English or even the alphabet, she quickly learned the importance of non-verbal communication and social cues. The challenges of adapting to a new culture, living without her parents for five years, and adjusting to an entirely new environment shaped her understanding of EI. It wasn’t until she entered the corporate world as a management consultant at Deloitte that she fully recognized the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership and teamwork.
In leadership development, Dr. Woo stresses the value of recognizing cognitive biases and assumptions. Leaders often fall into the trap of expecting others to think and act as they would, which can create disconnects within teams. To overcome this, leaders need to be self-aware, challenge their assumptions, and remain flexible in how they approach different perspectives.
Asking questions to clarify intentions and understanding the reasons behind others’ actions are key strategies for promoting empathy and inclusiveness in the workplace. Dr. Woo’s approach emphasizes creating a culture where everyone works cohesively, ensuring that emotional intelligence becomes a collective effort rather than an individual endeavor.
In a world where social media often highlights only the success stories, Dr. Woo advocates for sharing personal mistakes and failures as well. She believes that acknowledging the challenges along the path to success helps others feel less isolated in their own struggles. Sharing these experiences not only humanizes the journey but also creates an environment where learning from failures is valued.
This week, you’ll learn how to define ‘Emotional Intelligence’ (EI), why EI is so important in a highly digital world and how to communicate better through leadership development.
LEARN MORE:
>> Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube (https://www.instagram.com/mindbrainparenting), (https://www.facebook.com/MindBrainParenting), (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyjcwoo), (https://x.com/mindbrainparent), and (https://www.youtube.com/@mindbrainemotion)
>> Check out her card deck and her online emotional intelligence course (https://mindbrainemotion.com)
NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:
>> Listen to the bonus episode to learn where emotional intelligence is headed in today’s digital world and simple exercises to build up your EI. (https://thens.ls/46XgGz8)
Mentioned in this episode:
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