Facilitating 'Mission Include' mentoring program

Want to master emotional intelligence? These 9 key skills will do exactly that ⬇️ Emotional intelligence is one of the most  valuable skills you can develop. It impacts how you lead, communicate, and handle challenges. Here are 9 key skills of emotionally intelligent people: ✅ Managing Your Emotions – Recognise emotional triggers and respond with self-control. ❌ Don’t react impulsively or let emotions take over. ✅ Understanding Others – Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues to gauge emotions. ❌ Don’t assume you know how someone feels without listening. ✅ Handling Stressful Situations – Use mindfulness, breathing techniques, or structured approaches to stay calm. ❌ Don’t let pressure build up without healthy coping mechanisms. ✅ Giving Feedback – Balance honesty with empathy to make it constructive. ❌ Don’t deliver blunt feedback without considering the other person’s emotions. ✅ Managing Conflict – Stay composed, listen to all perspectives, and find common ground. ❌ Don’t let emotions escalate the situation or avoid addressing it. ✅ Building Relationships – Show genuine interest in others and build trust over time. ❌ Don’t focus only on your own needs and ignore emotional connections. ✅ Dealing with Criticism – View feedback as a learning opportunity and respond constructively. ❌ Don’t take feedback personally or become defensive. ✅ Showing Empathy – Acknowledge people’s emotions and offer support where needed. ❌ Don’t dismiss emotions as unimportant or irrational. ✅ Facing Challenges – Adapt, learn, and find solutions instead of staying stuck. ❌ Don’t let setbacks define you or dwell on negativity. 🧠 Remember: The most successful people don’t just  manage tasks - they manage emotions.

💛 Empathy Isn’t Enough — It’s What You Do With It That Counts Empathy is more than just feeling what others feel — it’s the skillful application of that understanding that transforms relationships, teams, and outcomes. 🧠 Many people think empathy alone can fix communication problems, but without critical thinking, empathy can actually mislead us. Feeling someone’s pain doesn’t automatically mean we know how to help them. That’s where the Critical 3 Academy Framework and Critical Thinking Toolkit become powerful allies. Empathy gives us emotional awareness — but critical thinking gives us the structure to act wisely. Together, they form a bridge between emotion and action. ✨ Here’s how you can use them together: 1️⃣ Observe and Interpret Clearly. Use empathy to notice facial expressions, tone, and body language — then use critical thinking to analyze what these cues might actually mean instead of assuming. 2️⃣ Pause Before Reacting. Empathy can pull us into emotion; critical thinking reminds us to step back, reflect, and choose responses that are constructive and solution-focused. 3️⃣ Ask Better Questions. The Toolkit helps you move from “I feel for you” to “How can I support you effectively?” — turning compassion into collaboration. 4️⃣ Create a Culture of Rational Care. In the workplace, this combo strengthens trust, reduces conflict, and fosters inclusive problem-solving — because people feel heard and understood, not just pitied. 💬 True empathy isn’t passive — it’s proactive. When combined with critical thinking, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for leadership, teamwork, and emotional intelligence. 🔑 Feel deeply. Think clearly. Act wisely. That’s where real human connection — and growth — begins. Use Critical 3 Academy Framework and Critical Thinking Toolkit for a powerful boost in applying effective empathy. Follow, share and comment on how this was helpful. Download my free printable infographics and cheat sheets. See my featured post for more like this. Image Credit: Mental Health Center Kids LLC #Empathy #CriticalThinking #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #Critical3Academy #MindsetShift #SoftSkills #Communication #PersonalGrowth #HumanConnection

One of the most powerful skills you can develop—especially in a toxic workplace—is becoming un-manipulable. That means being so grounded in your own clarity and confidence that no amount of guilt trips, gaslighting, or pressure can shake you. Here are five sentences that will help you stand tall: ✨ I’m clear on my boundaries, and I won’t compromise them. ✨ I’m responsible for my work, not for managing your emotions. ✨ No is a complete sentence, and I don’t need to over-explain it. ✨ Your perception of me is not my reality. ✨ I choose to respond with clarity, not defensiveness. As a psychologist and executive coach, I’ve seen how transformational it is when professionals reclaim their voice at work. Confidence isn’t about being loud—it’s about being unshakable.

“I have never seen our team this engaged online.. the chat was blowing up and the emojis were flying!” This is what I just heard from the company that hired me to run two 90 minute virtual workshops (8:30 am and 8 pm - to accommodate all of time zones for their international staff). Often we think we need to be in the same room to learn and engage. Is it great? Sure!.. but it’s not necessary. Tools like zoom allow speakers like me to keep people involved and engaged throughout the session. I never go more than 5 minutes without asking people to put an idea in the chat, answer a poll, throw up an emoji, or breakout for discussion in a virtual breakout room.. because people WILL tune out if they don’t feel involved. People don’t need more info… and just feeling inspired is not enough! They need to leave with the tools and clear steps to make changes and turn knowledge into action! This is why I pull coaching into every talk. When you ask people what THEY want, what THEY think they could do.. they are more likely to do it! (And when you add on follow-up group coaching sessions the impact is magnified!) My most popular virtual keynotes and workshops are below (but I tailor everything): 1) It’s Not You, It’s Your Brain: How Busy People Can Finally Make Healthy Habits Stick (but for real this time..) 2) Authentic Confidence is a Muscle: How to use Habit Chance Science and Grow it to Unlock Opportunity (and Joy!) 3) Burnt/Bored-Out? How Mindset + Micro Habits can Rewire Energy, Connection and Mental Health at Work Shoot me a DM if you would like to learn more about these and other talks/offerings! I love connecting #speaker #virtualspeaker #virtualkeynote #keynote #ottawa #workplacewellness #mentalhealth #wellness #habitchange #leadership #professionaldevelopment

Want to master emotional intelligence? These 9 key skills will do exactly that ⬇️ Brilliant Share by: Sean McPheat 🔥 Original post below: ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Want to master emotional intelligence? These 9 key skills will do exactly that ⬇️ Emotional intelligence is one of the most  valuable skills you can develop. It impacts how you lead, communicate, and handle challenges. Here are 9 key skills of emotionally intelligent people: ✅ Managing Your Emotions – Recognise emotional triggers and respond with self-control. ❌ Don’t react impulsively or let emotions take over. ✅ Understanding Others – Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues to gauge emotions. ❌ Don’t assume you know how someone feels without listening. ✅ Handling Stressful Situations – Use mindfulness, breathing techniques, or structured approaches to stay calm. ❌ Don’t let pressure build up without healthy coping mechanisms. ✅ Giving Feedback – Balance honesty with empathy to make it constructive. ❌ Don’t deliver blunt feedback without considering the other person’s emotions. ✅ Managing Conflict – Stay composed, listen to all perspectives, and find common ground. ❌ Don’t let emotions escalate the situation or avoid addressing it. ✅ Building Relationships – Show genuine interest in others and build trust over time. ❌ Don’t focus only on your own needs and ignore emotional connections. ✅ Dealing with Criticism – View feedback as a learning opportunity and respond constructively. ❌ Don’t take feedback personally or become defensive. ✅ Showing Empathy – Acknowledge people’s emotions and offer support where needed. ❌ Don’t dismiss emotions as unimportant or irrational. ✅ Facing Challenges – Adapt, learn, and find solutions instead of staying stuck. ❌ Don’t let setbacks define you or dwell on negativity. 🧠 Remember: The most successful people don’t just  manage tasks - they manage emotions. Which emotional intelligence skill do you think is the most important? Let me know in the comments below ⬇️ ______________ Your best asset is your Emotional Intelligence :) Follow if you want to sharpen those skills.

A conversation in the workplace isn’t always a performance moment, but it often is. It might be a tough conversation where disagreement is rife. It might be an uncomfortable conversation where you have to confront an issue you’d rather avoid. It may a conversation that’s anxiety-inducing for you - perhaps about a topic that evokes mental turmoil. Or it might be a nerve wracking conversation - one with a potential client you have to impress or one with difficult client you have to tiptoe around. What has the accompanying video got to do with all of this? These are two performance moments for these elite professional athletes. One engaging appropriately…the other…hmmmm! But here’s the thing. Engaging in a conversation is a behavioural skill that goes beyond words. Its also a behavioural skill that constantly mediated by three mental skills - three mental skills that glue the interaction together… Attention Intensity Intent The first competitor engages with high attention, optimal intensity, and a high level of intent. Eyes on, alert to content, leaning into meaning. The second? Perhaps not so much. That’s not meant to shame. These clips are high pressure moments where the human side of any elite competitor can cause them to drop to a Low Performance Mindset. We all have our psycho-social blind spots and we can all work at our interactions. Our body language. Our gestures. Our listening. Our responses. …these are factors that load onto attention, intensity, and intent. Ultimately, the day throws many performance moments at us. By consciously going to work on our mental skills in these moments we can improve the quality and consistency of our performances.

🌿 Reflections on the IML Course: Critical Conversations I recently completed the “Critical Conversations” short course with the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand . And that was an insightful experience! A big thank you to our facilitator Aleisha Coote , who made the whole session so engaging, supportive, and fun. It truly felt like a safe space to share experiences and learn from other local managers across different fields. The course gave me practical tools and fresh ways to approach those difficult but important conversations at work: from creating psychological safety and managing emotions, to asking the right questions that open up real dialogue. 💡 I took away three key models:
1️⃣ STATE - Share facts, Tell your story, Ask for others’ perspectives, Talk tentatively, and Encourage testing. It’s a simple structure to keep conversations calm, respectful, and productive. It’s helpful tool for addressing issues for the first time when you want to hear and understand the opponent, agree on some steps for improvement. Or even during annual performance review. 
2️⃣ SBI feedback model - Situation-Behavior-Impact. It’s a method for giving clear, specific, and objective feedback. For me it seems easier and more straight forward than STATE. 
3️⃣ DESC model - for assertive communication that involves 4 steps: Describe the situation, Express your feelings or concerns, Specify the desired change or action, and state the Consequences if the change is or isn't made. For me this model is useful when first 2 didn’t work and a lot of more mild conversations are passed without any improvements, and you need to be sharp and put the end of the issue. 💬 My biggest takeaway?
It’s not always about having the perfect answer, it’s about preparing and asking the right questions that help others express their feelings, ideas, and vision. I also loved a simple habit shared during the course - starting the week with your team by asking three quick questions:
✅ How was your weekend / what was exciting or fun?
✅ How’s your wellness this week (on a scale from 0–10)?
✅ What’s one important thing for you in the week ahead? It’s such a small thing, but it builds connection and trust. ‼️ The most challenging (and rewarding) part was applying these approaches to our real-life work situations. In a workshop, it’s clear how the conversation should go. But in reality, people react in unpredictable ways. That’s where the real practice begins: staying calm, grounded, and finding your own balance to guide the discussion forward. I’m really grateful for this learning journey. It reminded me that great leadership starts with curiosity, empathy, and courage to “discuss the undiscussable.” Thank you IML and Aleisha Coote for an inspiring course! 🙌 #criticalconversations #leadership #IML #leadershipcourse #growth #personaldevelopment

In work and in life, how we speak can heal or harm. Today, I learnt how to choose the healing side. Our topic was Handling High-Stake Conversations in the Workplace, facilitated by Jane Odonwodo. It was insightful and practical, filled with lessons that reach beyond the workplace into everyday life. High-stake conversations are those moments when the outcome truly matters; a tough conversation with a client, a performance review, a disagreement with a colleague, or even giving feedback to a team member. They often carry emotions, tension, and the risk of misunderstanding. Jane introduced us to the C.A.L.M. Framework, a practical guide to managing these moments wisely: C – Clarify the issue before responding. A – Address the person and not the personality. L – Listen actively to understand, not to react. M – Manage emotions (yours and others’) with empathy. She also shared some exceptions to the CALM approach, such as when immediate safety or legal boundaries are involved, or when a situation requires firm boundaries rather than extended dialogue. One of the highlights for me was learning about the mirror effect in psychology. Have you ever found yourself tense in a calm situation just because someone beside you is tense? Or yawned because someone else did? That is mirroring at work, our natural tendency to reflect the emotions and behaviors around us. As leaders, teammates, or even family members, learning when to mirror to build empathy and when to stay grounded to de-escalate tension is a real superpower. I am still learning this balance, but sessions like today help me see how self-awareness can truly transform how we connect. I am grateful for growth moments like this and for teachers like Jane who make learning feel both personal and practical. #ProductDesigner #IShowedUpToday #SoftSkills

I do not know if it's a superpower, but the ability to 'Think On Your Feet' is a must have. That ability to react to events without prior thoughts, to be mentally agile, is something that will come in handy as you deal with people and situations. I have been in situations where my CEO comes at the team with certain questions that would throw us off balance, and I remain calm and give him an answer that I know will abort his mission. It usually always works, until one teammate will bring one answer that will scatter the edifice I just built 😭 But yeah, it's something you can learn, practical ways that can help you become able to think on your feet: 1. Sharpen Your Knowledge Base - The more you know, the easier it is to pull ideas together on the spot. - Stay updated on your field, current affairs, and general knowledge. - Read widely, books, articles, case studies, so you have reference points to draw from. 2. Practice Active Listening - Often, people freeze because they’re not fully tuned in. - When you really listen, your brain connects dots faster, and your responses become more relevant. 3. Use Pauses as Power - Quick thinking doesn’t mean blurting out instantly. - Learn to pause for 2–3 seconds; it gives your brain time to catch up, and makes you sound more composed. 4. Engage in Mental Drills - Try summarizing news articles in 30 seconds. - Train your brain to process, simplify, and respond fast. 5. Stay Calm Under Pressure - Anxiety slows down clear thinking. - Practice breathing techniques, mindfulness, or visualization before high-pressure situations. Calmness = clarity = quick thinking. 6. Think in Frameworks - Have go-to mental templates (e.g., Problem → Cause → Solution or Past → Present → Future). - Frameworks make your responses structured and impressive without needing long preparation. 7. Build Confidence Through Reps - Speak up often in meetings, even if it’s small inputs. - Volunteer for impromptu speaking opportunities. The more you practice, the faster your mind adapts.

When people hear emotional intelligence, they often think it means being a “people person.” But EQ isn’t about charisma. It’s a skill. At work, EQ helps you pick up on tension in a room, navigate tough conversations, and build trust across differences. So what are the components you need to cultivate it?: 1️⃣ Self-control — staying grounded under stress 2️⃣ Awareness of triggers — anticipating and planning for them 3️⃣ Positive relationships — built on authenticity and empathy 4️⃣ Inspiring others — leading with purpose, not just charisma The best part is these are learnable skills. And it’s what sets 90% of top performers apart. When individuals build EQ, organizations benefit—from higher performance, stronger culture, to better retention. 👉 What’s one EQ skill that’s made the biggest difference in your work? https://lnkd.in/gqKy_Htg