Emotional Intelligence for Managers

Emotional Intelligence for Managers

You know that moment when someone on your team gets defensive during feedback, or when you can feel the tension in the room but can't quite put your finger on why? As a manager, you're dealing with people's emotions all day long - including your own. But here's the thing: most of us learned technical skills to get promoted, not people skills. So we end up winging it when it comes to the emotional side of leadership, and that's where things can go sideways fast.

I've been there. You're trying to have a difficult conversation with an underperformer, and suddenly they're either shutting down completely or getting defensive and argumentative. Or maybe you're stressed about budget pressures, and without realizing it, you're snapping at people who don't deserve it. The thing is, emotions don't disappear just because we're at work - they drive pretty much everything that happens in your team.

That's where emotional intelligence comes in. It's not about being touchy-feely or having group hugs. It's about understanding what's really happening beneath the surface and knowing how to work with it instead of against it. When you can read the room better, manage your own reactions under pressure, and help your team navigate tricky situations, everything else gets easier. People trust you more, conflicts get resolved faster, and you spend way less time dealing with drama.

The practical applications are huge. Think about performance reviews - when you understand how to deliver tough feedback without triggering someone's fight-or-flight response, they actually hear what you're saying instead of getting defensive. Or those moments when the team's stressed about a deadline and everyone's getting snippy with each other. With better communication skills, you can address the underlying tension before it explodes into something bigger.

This isn't theoretical stuff either. We'll work through real scenarios you face every day. Like handling that team member who takes everything personally, or dealing with your own frustration when upper management keeps changing priorities. You'll learn how to spot emotional patterns in yourself and others, how to have conversations that actually resolve issues instead of just postponing them, and how to create an environment where people feel safe to be honest about problems before they become disasters.

What You'll Learn

You'll walk away knowing how to recognize emotional triggers in yourself and others, so you can respond thoughtfully instead of just reacting. We'll cover practical techniques for staying calm under pressure, especially during those moments when everything's on fire and people are looking to you for answers. You'll learn how to read non-verbal cues and understand what people aren't saying out loud, which is often more important than what they are saying.

We'll also dive into having difficult conversations that actually work. Not the kind where everyone nods politely and then nothing changes, but the kind where you address real issues and come out stronger on the other side. Plus, you'll learn how to support your team through change and uncertainty without taking on their stress as your own.

You'll practice giving feedback that motivates instead of deflates, and learn how to create psychological safety so people bring you problems early instead of hiding them until they explode. We'll also cover how to manage up emotionally - understanding your boss's communication style and emotional needs so you can get better support for your team.

The Bottom Line

This training gives you practical tools you can use immediately to improve every interaction you have as a manager. You'll spend less time dealing with interpersonal drama and more time actually getting work done. Your team will trust you more, communicate more openly, and handle stress better because you're modeling emotional intelligence every day. Plus, you'll feel more confident handling the human side of management, which honestly makes the whole job way more enjoyable.

Available in Brisbane and Online.