Episode 327: Emotional Intelligence for the Overwhelmed with Lori Woodley-Langendorff
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In this Workday Playdate, Erin explores this concept: teams disengage because leaders are doing the wrong kind of leading for what this technological era requires. Joined by Lori Woodley-Langendorff, Erin digs into what it really means to lead humans in a workplace that’s emotionally undertrained and relationally overwhelmed.
Lori brings wisdom from her 30-year career as a school counselor, emotional intelligence educator, and creator of the SEL Muscle framework, bridging the worlds of parenting, education, and leadership. Together, Erin and Lori connect emotional intelligence (EI) and social emotional literacy (SEL) — showing how intention, energy, connection, and accountability drive engagement far more than KPIs ever could.
Why Emotional Intelligence Gets Ignored
Emotions don’t disappear just because we’re at work. Erin and Lori break down why ignoring emotional intelligence leads to stress, miscommunication, and disconnection — and why EI is no longer optional in today’s workplace.
SEL Is a Muscle
Social emotional literacy works like any other skill: it strengthens with practice. Lori introduces her SEL Muscle framework, offering practical, usable tools for building emotional resilience and self-regulation in real life.
Connection and Accountability
Empathy without accountability leads to chaos. Accountability without connection leads to fear. This episode explores why emotionally intelligent people — and teams — need both to thrive.
Emotional Awareness in Real Time
Emotional intelligence shows up most clearly in moments of overwhelm. Erin and Lori discuss how noticing emotions early helps prevent burnout, improve communication, and strengthen relationships.
Better Questions, Better Relationships
Curiosity without judgment changes everything. Learn how asking for what you need — instead of complaining — creates clarity, trust, and forward movement at work and at home.
Modeling Emotional Intelligence
Whether you’re leading a team or raising humans, people learn emotional intelligence by watching it in action. Lori shares why “walking the talk” is the most powerful teaching tool we have.
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