Building emotionally fit organisations in the age of AI

Soft skills, or human skills, define how we engage with others and include leadership, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.  Many cognitive and socio-emotional skills provide the foundation for high emotional intelligence (EQ).

EQ is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions while also recognizing, understanding, and influencing the emotions of others.

“Emotional-social intelligence is a cross-section of interrelated emotional and social competencies, skills, and facilitators that determine how effectively we understand and express ourselves, understand others and relate with them, and cope with daily demands.”

Many organisations excel at optimising technical and practical skills but neglect Emotional Intelligence (EQ). EQ, a key “soft skill,” is the new psychology of leadership and needs to be developed.

Technical know-how alone is no longer enough.

Pre-pandemic, 87% of employees lacked the cognitive, interpersonal, and leadership soft skills required for the future. The post-pandemic workplace and the rise of hybrid work and AI demand an acceleration of EQ and soft skills, both digitally and face-to-face.

Late last year, I coached an executive client—let’s call him Adam. Adam faced disconnection within his team.

His nine direct reports worked from home three days a week, which seemed fine initially but later led to issues. Team members were disengaged, interactions were minimal, and team meetings felt flat. Adam’s focus was entirely on technical elements: systems, procedures, KPIs, and accountability. While these were solid, he overlooked the people skills necessary for fostering connection and relationships. Through coaching, we explored key EQ aspects. Adam learned to engage 1:1 with his team members, understand their motivations, and leverage their strengths. He also worked on building rapport, empathy, and optimism.

EQ encompasses many competencies that require continuous development.

At RG Dynamics, we’ve educated thousands of leaders and teams for over 15 years in EQ.  We now incorporate the world-class RocheMartin EQ tool into our 1:1 coaching programs and workshops.

This tool covers ten competencies:

Inner Focus: Self-knowing, Self-control, Self-confidence, and Self-reliance.
Outer Focus: Adaptability, Optimism, Self-actualisation.
Other Focus: Empathy, Relationship skills, and Straightforwardness.

Emotionally fit organisations nurture strong leaders and build cohesive teams. They leverage strengths, improve group dynamics, and empower individuals to become more self-aware. This creates a passion for learning and continual improvement.

A vibrant, emotionally intelligent culture strengthens employee relationships, increases retention, and attracts top talent.

Key Benefits of EQ:  

Leadership Development 
Leaders with high EQ build stronger relationships, understand colleagues’ motivations, and handle difficult conversations with positive outcomes.

Cultural Transformation 
Embedding values into actionable behaviours helps shape a company’s way of doing business.

Diversity & Inclusion 
Psychological safety fosters collaboration and trust, creating an inclusive team environment.

Wellness & Well-being 
Emotional regulation supports workplace cultures prioritising employee care and protection.

Recruitment & Selection 
Selecting candidates with high EQ enhances performance and strengthens team dynamics.

Empowering Sales Teams 
High EQ fosters authentic connections, prioritising customer relationships over product and price.

As AI shapes industries, EQ becomes more critical. AI can automate tasks but cannot replicate human interaction.

Leaders must foster connections, interpret emotional cues through digital platforms, and provide empathy—skills that differentiate humans from machines.

EQ is vital for navigating hybrid workplaces and humanising interactions in the age of AI.

Creating an emotionally fit organisation is essential in today’s rapidly changing landscape. Hybrid work, evolving markets, and AI demand deeper human connection.

How are you developing Emotional Intelligence in your leaders, teams, and overall business culture?

Written by Renée Giarrusso.
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