For years, emotional intelligence (EI) has been seen as a cornerstone of effective leadership. It gave rise to a more human approach to leading others and navigating complex relationships at work.
But then the world changed. Faster than EI could keep up.
A few days before a major layoff at my last company, I began a learning journey called Emotional Agility for Wellbeing at Work, led by Harvard psychologist Susan David. At first, I thought I was joining for my own professional growth. Three days later, it became something else entirely:
- Dedicated time to reset and reconnect
- A way to move forward with purpose, even when the path wasn’t clear
- A practical framework and reliable tool for navigating change
Expanding Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence gave us a powerful foundation for leadership:
- Recognize emotions
- Manage responses
- Read the room
- Build strong relationships
These are essential skills, and they’ve shaped how we understand effective leadership for decades. But today’s workplace challenges demand more than recognition and regulation.
When we’re navigating uncertainty, grief, identity shifts, or emotional intensity (especially during layoffs or major change) leaders need more than composure. They need flexibility, acceptance, and grounded action in the face of discomfort.
That’s where emotional agility comes in. It doesn’t replace emotional intelligence. It builds on it. While EI helps us work with others, emotional agility helps us work with ourselves. It’s about staying open to what we feel, even when it’s messy, and choosing how to move forward from a place of values and clarity.
What Emotional Agility Actually Does
Emotional Agility is about facing emotions, not fixing them.
As Susan David explains, it’s the ability to navigate your inner world with curiosity, courage, and compassion, so you can move forward aligned with your values.
It’s not about controlling how you feel. It’s about creating space between feeling and action so you can respond rather than react.
When the layoff hit, I wasn’t trying to manage my emotions. I was learning from them. I wasn’t telling myself to stay strong. I was letting myself be real and still show up for others.
Through microlearnings prompts delivered to my phone, I built reflection into my daily life. While working out and in my parked car during my boys’ school pick-up. It became support in my pocket: small, human reminders that I still had a choice in how I showed up.
Why This Matters Now
AI is transforming everything: how we hire, learn, communicate, and lead.
But as Susan David says:
“The present and future of work is human. AI is transforming industries, but the most valuable skill today is Emotional Agility—the ability to navigate complexity, drive change, and build thriving, human-centered workplaces.”
The truth is:
- Emotional Intelligence can help us read the room
- But emotional agility helps us hold the room, especially when it’s full of complexity, emotion, and uncertainty
We don’t need more polished reactions. We need more honest leadership. We need more people who know how to sit with discomfort, listen to emotions, and act from a place of values.
What’s Next: Emotional Agility Workshops
We are so excited to offer Emotional Agility Workshops through tagLeaders.
These workshops are designed for real life and real leaders. Those navigating uncertainty, leading change, or simply trying to stay grounded in a shifting world.
You’ll walk away with tools to:
- Recognize and name what you’re feeling (without judgment)
- Create space between thought and action
- Build resilience during hard seasons
- Lead with more authenticity, presence, and care
This isn’t a workshop to look good on paper. It’s one that changes how you move through the world. Let’s stop performing emotional intelligence and start living emotional agility.
This skill became a compass in the chaos for me. It helped me maintain my own wellbeing during one of the most challenging moments of my career. I hope this does the same for you.
Reach out to us at hello@tagleaders.org so we can explore how we can support you and your organization with this impactful workshop.
~ Gena Goolsby (Co-Founder of tagLeaders)
