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It happens. You’re halfway through your workday and feel drained. Drained from all the decisions, the client's work and everything else that has come your way. Now you see you need to discuss a difficult situation and you’re not ready. You end up rehearsing what you’ll say but may feel stuck. We have been there with this internal battle of thinking it’s going to be quick. We share our stories of those hard conversations with team members and clients. Conflict isn’t the problem; it's our relationship with it.

In this episode, we'll explore why hard conversations feel heavy. Along with how to approach them with clarity instead of fear. There's this reality where leaders tend to avoid conversations. It's not because of the conversation itself but how it will make them feel afterwards. Emotional Intelligence is about managing relationships. It's about separating facts from emotions. Along with creating a safe space for those hard conversations. You want to stay curious; not defensive. Addressing issues from the start will transform tension into trust.

What to listen for in this episode:

The Reality Check on Conflict Avoidance: There are times when leaders will rehearse conversations in their heads. This will drain you. But why? We also reflect on what has happened with emotional energy. Along with why it's important to write down your frustrations to get them out of your head.

Emotional Intelligence as a Leadership Superpower: Why it's important to separate facts from emotions. The importance of staying curious vs defensive in hard conversations. And why disagreement doesn't mean disrespect. Everyone has different ways of communicating and we have to create a safe space.

Building Trust Through Uncomfortable Conversations: To lead with intention, do know there will be conflicts but understand how to navigate them. Of course, everyone has feelings, but you need to know how to prevent resentment. By doing this you're building relationships that's built on trust.

The best leaders don't avoid hard conversations—they approach them with emotional intelligence, turning tension into trust one honest conversation at a time. What conflict are you avoiding right now, and what might change if you approached it with clarity instead of fear?

Support the show

Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

Host Sara Lowell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

Host Dana Johnson:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/

Send us a text

You've walked out of meetings wondering why something felt off, right? The agenda was clear, expectations were set, projects were outlined but somehow, your team seemed distant. Not resistant, just... quiet. No pushback, but no questions either. That subtle disconnect where you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, but you know alignment didn't land the way you hoped. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and you're definitely not imagining it.

In this episode, we discuss the often-overlooked leadership skills that exist between the words we say and the environment we create. We explore how social awareness and empathy aren't just nice-to-have soft skills, they're essential tools for building psychological safety, increasing team engagement, and creating workplaces where people actually want to contribute.

From understanding why your team adapts in silence to learning how to read the signals before turnover becomes your biggest expense, this conversation gets real about what it takes to lead with emotional intelligence. You'll hear personal stories about being the overlooked team member whose ideas were dismissed, parenting lessons that translate directly to workplace dynamics, and practical strategies for asking better questions and genuinely listening to the answers.

What to Listen For in This Episode:

The gap between clarity and connection: Discover why being clear with your instructions isn't enough if your team doesn't feel emotionally safe around you. People respond to how safe they feel, not just what you say, and understanding this shift from logic-only leadership to emotional reality can transform your team dynamics and reduce costly turnover.

Empathy without over-accommodating: Learn the critical difference between building trust through empathy and lowering your standards to protect comfort. We break down how to hold honest conversations, even the hard ones about whether someone's in the right role, while still making space for people to show up as their whole selves at work.

The power of pause and open-ended questions: Silence makes most leaders uncomfortable but waiting five seconds before rushing to fill the quiet can reveal who's struggling, who's disengaged, and what your team actually needs. You'll get practical examples of how to observe, ask better questions, and truly listen to create an environment where people feel heard and valued.

When your team goes quiet, what do you assume and what might change if you

Support the show

Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

Host Sara Lowell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

Host Dana Johnson:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/

Send us a text

So, you’ve just stepped away from a tough conversation with your team. In your head, you’re rerunning every word you said, every tone you used, and you think I knew better than that. That inner dialogue many of us experience after a stressful moment is exactly where today’s episode begins. We navigate the space between who we intend to be as leaders and how we actually show up when pressure spikes, the reality of emotional regulation after the moment has already passed.

We dive deep into emotional intelligence, especially the often-overlooked skill of emotional regulation. We explore why self-awareness alone doesn’t always prevent us from reacting under stress, how our nervous systems hijack decision-making in heated moments, and practical ways to manage those reactions so that you lead with clarity instead of impulse. Whether you’re an entrepreneur facing constant challenges or a leader aiming to build better communication and community support, this conversation offers grounded insight into transforming stress into growth.

What to listen for in this episode

Awareness vs Regulation: Understanding that recognizing your emotions and managing them are two distinct skills. You can be self-aware and still get triggered in the moment and that’s normal, not a flaw.

Practical Practices: How naming emotions, taking intentional pauses, and even using tools (yes, including AI as a sounding board) can help you move through stress rather than be controlled by it.

Leadership Impact: Accepting that emotional regulation isn’t only personal growth, it influences your team’s culture, communication, resilience, and long-term engagement.

What if the moments you wish you could undo are actually your greatest teachers in becoming the leader you’re capable of being? 💡

Support the show

Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

Host Sara Lowell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

Host Dana Johnson:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/