Six Seconds, The Emotional Intelligence Network

The weekend might be over — but your rest doesn’t have to be. As the new week begins, it’s easy to switch straight into “go” mode — back-to-back meetings, overflowing inboxes, constant notifications. But real productivity doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from knowing when to pause. 🧠 Practicing rest at work isn’t laziness — it’s emotional intelligence in action. It’s how we create the space to think clearly, regulate stress, and connect with others with presence and empathy. Here are 6 simple ways to practice rest this week: ✨ Take a mental pause between tasks 🌿 Watch the clouds, or walk in nature 🔌 Unplug for an hour 💬 Name how you really feel 🙅 Say no to one non-essential thing 😴 Lie down or do nothing for 10 minutes As we head into the week, ask yourself: what does rest look like for me today — and how can I protect it, even in the middle of my workday? Because rest isn’t just recovery — it’s readiness. 💡 Get more emotional intelligence insights at 6sec.org/subscribe

🔥💭 In moments of stress, it’s so easy to slip into a reactive mindset — acting on autopilot, rushing to fix or defend, or letting fear and urgency take the lead. We all do it. But staying in that reactive space often leads to regret, misunderstanding, and missed opportunities for real connection. Emotional intelligence gives us another option. It helps us pause, breathe, and shift into a responsive mindset — one that’s intentional, grounded in values, and open to learning. In the workplace, this shift changes everything: ✨ We communicate with empathy instead of assumption. ✨ We make decisions that align with our deeper purpose. ✨ We build trust and psychological safety in our teams. ✨ We create space for reflection rather than reaction. Next time you feel triggered or overwhelmed, take a moment to notice what’s happening inside. Name the emotion. Ask yourself what it’s trying to tell you — then choose your next step with awareness. That small pause is a powerful act of leadership. 💛 #EmotionalIntelligence #MindsetShift #SelfAwareness #Leadership #Empathy #Trust #WorkplaceWellbeing #SixSeconds

🌍 The world is running low on emotional charge — and many of us can feel it. Levels of empathy, optimism, and trust are dropping, while burnout continues to rise. These aren’t just statistics — they’re signs that our emotional batteries, individually and collectively, are running low. As Maureen Metcalf, MBA writes in her thoughtful piece “Leading in a Time of Emotional Fatigue,” today’s leaders are being called to navigate more than strategy and performance — they’re being asked to lead with presence, compassion, and self-awareness. Emotional intelligence isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore; it’s the foundation of sustainable leadership. When we intentionally recharge our empathy, optimism, and trust, we not only support our teams — we help rebuild the emotional energy our world so deeply needs. 💛 Let’s make space to recharge — for ourselves, and for one another. #EmotionalIntelligence #Leadership #SelfAwareness #Empathy #Optimism #Trust #BurnoutPrevention #SixSeconds

Emotional Intelligence in Action at Work In the workplace, emotions aren’t distractions — they’re valuable data guiding how we lead, collaborate, and communicate. When we name our emotions, something powerful happens in the brain: the prefrontal cortex activates, reducing emotional intensity and increasing clarity. In that moment, we shift from being in the emotion to observing it — opening the door to thoughtful, intentional responses. This practice strengthens communication and relationships, builds trust, and enhances problem-solving. Teams that can talk about emotions constructively are better equipped to navigate stress, adapt to change, and support one another with empathy. At its heart, emotional intelligence is about awareness and choice. And naming emotions is the first step toward both. 💛 What emotion might be showing up in your work this week — and what message might it be sending you? #SixSeconds #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamCulture #PsychologicalSafety #WellbeingAtWork

🌿 What if emotions aren’t obstacles — but signals guiding us toward what matters most? In times of overwhelm and uncertainty, emotions can feel like too much — yet they hold powerful wisdom when we learn how to listen. Join us for “What Emotions Mean: Listening to Your Emotional Wisdom,” a free live-online session exploring insights from Emotion Rules, the new book by Six Seconds’ Founder & CEO Joshua Freedman. 💡 Discover how to interpret emotions as messages, not noise 💡 Shift from emotional chaos to clarity 💡 Strengthen balance, relationships, and presence — for yourself and those you lead ✨ Connect live with the Six Seconds global community to learn, practice, and reflect together. #EmotionalIntelligence #SixSeconds #EmotionRules #JoshuaFreedman #EQ #Leadership #Change #KnowYourself #ChooseYourself #GiveYourself

🦫 Empathy isn’t just “being nice” — it’s a leadership superpower. When leaders build empathy, they unlock four essential strengths that shape thriving teams and resilient workplaces: 💛 Build trust – quickly, by making people feel seen, understood, and connected. 👀 Read the room – by noticing unspoken dynamics that shape outcomes. 🤝 Fuel collaboration – by creating space for multiple perspectives. 💡 Spark innovation – by viewing challenges through others’ eyes. Empathy helps leaders tune in before they take action — building workplaces grounded in connection, creativity, and care. ✨ This week’s Six Seconds newsletter explores how empathy fuels effective leadership and organizational success. 👉 Subscribe here for practical EQ insights: https://lnkd.in/gb6pRs3j #EmotionalIntelligence #Empathy #LeadershipDevelopment #Teamwork #Innovation #SixSeconds

🧠 One Word Can Change Your Brain — and Your Workplace When we name what we feel, something remarkable happens in the brain. Research shows that simply saying “I feel frustrated” or “I feel anxious” activates the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and decision-making — while calming the amygdala, which triggers our stress response. In other words, putting feelings into words helps us think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and make wiser choices — especially under pressure. Now imagine what this could mean for your workplace. ✨ When leaders model emotional awareness, teams feel safer to express themselves. ✨ When employees can name what’s really happening inside, collaboration and trust grow. ✨ When stress reactions are met with understanding instead of judgment, performance and wellbeing rise together. This simple emotional intelligence skill — naming feelings — can shift a whole organizational culture from reactivity to reflection. It’s a small step that creates big change. 💡 This week’s Six Seconds newsletter dives into the neuroscience behind emotion labeling and how it can help leaders and teams strengthen connection and resilience at work. 👉 Subscribe here to get it in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/gu6PFcQ6

What do these two pie charts have to do with leadership and coaching at work? In the first chart, people say they’re ready for change — “Once things calm down,” “This time is different,” “I just need a new planner.” Those phrases point outward: toward systems, situations, or other people. Underneath are emotions like overwhelm, frustration, or helplessness. In the second chart, people are actually ready for change — “Maybe I’m getting in my own way,” “I want to feel more like myself again.” Now the focus turns inward. The emotion shifts toward ownership, curiosity, and possibility. 💡 That’s the turning point where emotional intelligence makes change possible. As leaders, we can’t push readiness — but we can listen for it. When we respond to emotions instead of fixing problems, people start finding solutions from within. In November Coaching Connections with the EQ Network, we’re exploring how to work with emotions for changing from "lost to found" — and how EQ tools help teams move from stuck to engaged. 🔗 Link in comments.

Many people are experiencing "big waves" -- list below -- which can be painfully difficult. That's also a reminder to all of us: We need to grow emotional intelligence skills. The more complex the challenge, the more emotional intelligence matters. For example, EQ is extra important in business and roles with... 1. High volumne of people-interactions. 2. Intense or prolonged uncertainty. 3. Crucial or complex customer or cross-team engagements. 4. High-stakes decisions or high-value interactions. 5. Need for fast innovation. 6. Bringing together many different stakeholders. 7. Influence without authority. 8. Large-scale M&A, restructuring, RIF, cultural transformation. 9. Rapid cycles / fast-paced implementation. 10. Do more with less / high pressure for results. & .... what else? How many of these are you "surfing" --> and what would help you do so better?

Misunderstandings of empathy are dangerous. Empathy isn't 'soft' or 'weak,' it's a superpower for times like these. If people talk about empathy at all, they either say: “Walk a mile in their shoes.” - or - "It's just being soft" In reality, empathy is the skill of balancing thoughts, feelings, and actions to grow connection and shared insight. Empathy is MUTUAL, INSIGHTFUL, and gets to the real needs. ✨ What really makes empathy work: 🟢 Being present 🟢 Listening fully 🟢 Validating emotions 🟢 Respecting others and self 🟢 Feeling deeply connected 🟢 Discovering real needs 🟢 Mutuality -- powerful empathy includes self+others Empathy isn’t about losing yourself in someone else’s experience. It’s about creating the conditions where understanding leads to wiser action. 👉 How have you seen empathy strengthen leadership, teams, or communities?