Episodes

  • Boundaries at Work: Protecting Your Energy and Career

    Boundaries at Work: Protecting Your Energy and Career
    Jun 22 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores the critical importance of setting boundaries in professional settings. Learn why workplace boundaries are essential for career advancement, energy management, and professional respect rather than barriers to success. Discover practical strategies for implementing time, communication, task, and emotional boundaries without damaging workplace relationships. Cara addresses common fears about boundary-setting hurting career prospects and explains how strong boundaries actually demonstrate professionalism and leadership potential. The episode covers proactive communication techniques, alternative-offering strategies when declining requests, and methods for starting small while building consistency. Perfect for professionals feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or struggling to advance despite working long hours. Gain insights into transforming from reactive to strategic work patterns while maintaining positive colleague relationships. Whether you're a manager, team member, or individual contributor, this episode provides actionable advice for protecting your professional energy while enhancing your career trajectory. Learn to distinguish between being helpful and being taken advantage of in workplace dynamics. Essential listening for anyone seeking to develop stronger emotional intelligence skills and create sustainable work practices that support long-term career success.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • The Imposter in the Corner Office: Conquering Self-Doubt at Work

    The Imposter in the Corner Office: Conquering Self-Doubt at Work
    Jun 15 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores imposter syndrome - the persistent feeling that your professional success is undeserved and you're deceiving others about your abilities. Discover why up to 70% of people experience these feelings and learn practical strategies for conquering self-doubt in the workplace.

    Key topics covered include the five common patterns of imposter syndrome: the perfectionist, expert, natural genius, individualist, and superwoman/superman. Cara explains how workplace environments, competitive cultures, and new challenges can trigger imposter feelings, especially in remote work settings.

    Learn actionable techniques for managing self-doubt, including documentation of achievements, reframing internal dialogue, embracing beginner's mindset, and focusing on unique value contributions. The episode emphasizes that imposter feelings often signal growth and learning opportunities rather than inadequacy.

    Whether you're in a leadership position, starting a new role, or taking on increased responsibilities, this episode provides valuable insights for building confidence and recognizing your professional worth. Perfect for professionals experiencing self-doubt, managers supporting team members, and anyone interested in workplace emotional intelligence and career development.
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Keeping Your Cool: Emotional Regulation Under Fire

    Keeping Your Cool: Emotional Regulation Under Fire
    Jun 8 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores the critical skill of emotional regulation in high-pressure workplace situations. Learn practical techniques for managing intense emotions when deadlines loom, conflicts arise, and stress levels peak. Cara discusses the neuroscience behind emotional responses and provides actionable strategies including the power of the pause, reframing techniques, and emotional granularity. Discover how physical techniques like controlled breathing can help restore calm and clarity in crisis moments. The episode covers managing difficult workplace relationships while maintaining composure and emphasizes that emotional regulation is a learnable skill that improves with practice. Perfect for professionals seeking to enhance their emotional intelligence, improve workplace relationships, and advance their careers through better self-management. Whether you're a manager dealing with team conflicts, a project manager facing tight deadlines, or anyone who wants to perform better under pressure, this episode provides evidence-based techniques for keeping your cool when it matters most. Learn why emotional regulation isn't about suppressing feelings but managing responses effectively to serve your professional goals and create positive workplace environments.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Brilliant But Broken: Why Smart People Struggle Socially

    Brilliant But Broken: Why Smart People Struggle Socially
    Jun 1 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores the fascinating disconnect between intellectual brilliance and social skills in professional environments. Discover why highly intelligent individuals often struggle with workplace relationships and communication, despite their exceptional problem-solving abilities. Learn about the different types of intelligence, including analytical, creative, and emotional intelligence, and why they don't always correlate. Cara examines factors like cognitive overload, communication style differences, and the curse of knowledge that can create social challenges for brilliant minds. The episode provides practical strategies for managers working with highly intelligent but socially challenged team members, as well as actionable advice for individuals who recognize these patterns in themselves. Topics covered include impostor syndrome, the role of focus and priorities in social skill development, and how organizations can create environments where different types of intelligence complement each other. Whether you're managing a brilliant but socially awkward colleague or recognizing these traits in yourself, this episode offers valuable insights into building more effective workplace relationships. Perfect for managers, team leaders, and professionals interested in understanding workplace dynamics and leveraging diverse cognitive strengths for better team performance.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • The Hidden Game: Workplace Politics Nobody Talks About

    The Hidden Game: Workplace Politics Nobody Talks About
    May 25 2026
    Navigate workplace politics with integrity and emotional intelligence in this eye-opening episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work. Host Cara Lennox demystifies the often-misunderstood world of office dynamics, revealing how political savvy isn't about manipulation but about understanding human relationships and organizational structures. Learn to read informal power networks, build authentic professional relationships, and create win-win situations that advance your career while helping others succeed. Discover practical strategies for observing meeting dynamics, identifying key influencers, and building political capital through ethical behavior. This episode addresses common misconceptions about workplace politics and provides actionable guidance for introverts and extroverts alike. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned professional, you'll gain valuable insights into turning workplace relationships into strategic advantages. Cara also tackles the challenging topic of toxic political environments, offering practical advice on when to document, disengage, or make strategic career moves. Perfect for professionals seeking to advance their careers while maintaining their values and integrity.
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Surviving Your Toxic Boss: When Leadership Goes Wrong

    Surviving Your Toxic Boss: When Leadership Goes Wrong
    May 18 2026
    In this essential episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox tackles one of the most common workplace challenges: surviving a toxic boss. Learn to identify patterns of toxic leadership behavior, from micromanagement and bullying to inconsistent communication and credit-stealing. Discover why leaders become toxic and how understanding their motivations can inform your survival strategy. Cara shares practical techniques for protecting your emotional wellbeing, including documentation strategies, professional communication tactics, and boundary-setting methods. The episode covers when to escalate issues to HR, how to build workplace alliances, and recognizing when it's time to plan your exit. Key topics include emotional regulation under pressure, maintaining professional integrity while protecting yourself, and using difficult leadership experiences as learning opportunities for your own career development. Whether you're currently dealing with a problematic manager or want to prepare for future challenges, this episode provides actionable strategies for maintaining your sanity and career momentum. Essential listening for anyone navigating complex workplace dynamics and building resilience in their professional life. Perfect for employees, managers, and HR professionals seeking to understand and address toxic leadership situations.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Leading with Heart: The Power of Empathetic Management

    Leading with Heart: The Power of Empathetic Management
    May 11 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores the transformative power of empathetic management and how leading with heart creates stronger, more engaged teams. Discover why empathy isn't a weakness in leadership but rather a crucial strength that drives business results and employee satisfaction. Learn practical strategies for developing empathetic leadership skills, including active listening techniques, perspective-taking exercises, and collaborative problem-solving approaches. Cara addresses common concerns about maintaining professional boundaries while showing genuine care for team members, and explains how to balance compassion with accountability. The episode features real-world examples of empathetic management in action and discusses the ripple effects of emotionally intelligent leadership on workplace culture. Whether you're a new manager or seasoned executive, you'll gain actionable insights for creating psychological safety, understanding individual employee needs, and building stronger professional relationships. Topics covered include emotional validation, flexible leadership styles, modeling emotional intelligence, and the business case for empathetic management. Perfect for leaders looking to enhance their emotional intelligence skills and create more human-centered workplaces that drive both employee wellbeing and organizational success.
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Taking It Well: How to Receive Criticism Like a Pro

    Taking It Well: How to Receive Criticism Like a Pro
    May 4 2026
    In this episode of Emotional Intelligence at Work, host Cara Lennox explores the essential workplace skill of receiving criticism gracefully and productively. Learn why criticism triggers our natural fight-or-flight response and discover six proven strategies for handling feedback like a seasoned professional. From mastering the art of listening without defending to separating the message from the messenger, this episode provides practical tools for transforming criticism from a career obstacle into a growth opportunity. Cara discusses emotional regulation techniques, the importance of seeking feedback proactively, and how to close the feedback loop effectively. Perfect for professionals at any career stage who want to improve their response to workplace feedback, performance reviews, and constructive criticism. Whether you're dealing with a difficult boss, navigating peer feedback, or preparing for annual reviews, these evidence-based strategies will help you maintain composure, extract value from criticism, and demonstrate the emotional intelligence that sets top performers apart. Key topics include managing defensive reactions, the twenty-four-hour rule for processing feedback, developing gratitude for difficult conversations, and becoming a feedback seeker rather than a feedback avoider in today's competitive workplace environment.
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins