Maggie Sass, PhD

How to Test EQ

How to Test for EQ: A Complete Guide

Think about the best leader you’ve ever worked with. Chances are, what made them stand out wasn’t just their technical skills. It was likely their ability to stay calm under pressure, really listen to others, manage conflict well, and bring out the best in everyone around them. That’s emotional intelligence, or EQ. Emotional intelligence is…

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Why Emotional intelligence is the Leadership Skill that matters most now

Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Leadership Skill That Matters Most Now

Isabel sat in her office staring at the performance reviews spread across her desk. Budget season at her firm meant layoffs, and even her best teams wouldn’t be spared. When Kelvin, her top-performing manager, came in for his review, she expected to breeze through praise and then move to the hard reality. But instead of…

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7 Ways Leaders Can Elevate Team Emotional Intelligence

7 Ways Leaders Can Elevate Team Emotional Intelligence

In today’s fast-moving workplace, technical expertise and strategic vision aren’t enough for leaders to sustain high performance. Teams that thrive over the long term do so because they’ve mastered a deeper set of capabilities: emotional intelligence (EQ). Research consistently shows that when teams build high EQ, they don’t just get along better, they make sharper…

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Before and After EQ: What the Data Says About Our Training's Impact

Before and After EQ: What the Data Says About Our Training’s Impact

Organizations are no longer satisfied with training that feels good in the moment but fades in the rearview mirror. In today’s pressure-filled workplace, HR and L&D leaders are being asked to connect learning programs to hard metrics: behavior change, emotional resilience, reduced burnout, better decision-making, and cultural transformation. At TalentSmartEQ, we believe emotional intelligence (EQ)…

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What High Emotional Intelligence Looks Like

In 2025, the pace of work feels faster than ever, and so does the emotional climate. Artificial intelligence is reshaping entire roles, return-to-office mandates are testing workplace trust, Gen Z is bringing fresh perspectives (and fresh expectations) into the mix, and global uncertainty continues to keep leaders on their toes. In times like these, technical…

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4 Ways to Reinforce Learning

4 Ways to Reinforce Learning After the Workshop

When it comes to emotional intelligence (EQ), the true value of a workshop isn’t just what happens in the room, it’s what happens after. For HR and Learning & Development (L&D) leaders, reinforcing EQ learning after a training session is critical for translating insight into behavior change. Without reinforcement, even the most engaging workshop will…

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Emotional Awareness vs. Emotional Intelligence: What’s the Difference?

You’ve likely heard the terms emotional awareness and emotional intelligence, and you might think they are essentially interchangeable. Another word for awareness is knowledge, and if you’re knowledgeable about something, that makes you intelligent in that area, right? Not quite. While emotional intelligence requires emotional awareness, awareness is only one part of the EQ equation….

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Retention Without Raises: How to Keep Top Talent When Budgets Are Tight

When promotions are paused, hiring is frozen, and compensation budgets are flat, organizations often brace for talent exits. The fear is understandable, and in many cases, justified. But here’s what’s often missed: Most people don’t leave because of the paycheck. According to iHire’s 2024 Talent Retention Report, just 20% of employees cited pay as the primary…

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Emotional Intelligence Examples in the Workplace and in Leadership

You can define emotional intelligence. You can even break it down into its key components and explain why EQ is a strong predictor of success in the workplace and beyond. But do you know it when you see it? Can you watch a situation unfold and point out examples of high emotional intelligence? Can you…

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EQ Meaning

EQ Meaning: Understanding Emotional Intelligence for Success in Business and Life

If you’ve been in the business world long enough, you’ve likely heard the term emotional intelligence, sometimes referred to as EQ. It’s widely known as a must-have skill in the workplace, but many business professionals still don’t even know the meaning of EQ. EQ is not just being “in tune” with how you’re feeling. The…

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