Joshua Freedman: The Secret Power Leaders Ignore

 

 

 

How can leaders use emotional intelligence to create workplaces where employees flourish? We explore the science and practice of emotional wisdom, examining how leaders can harness the interplay between emotion and reason to foster well-being, connection, and high performance in their teams.

Josh Freedman, named one of the top 50 management and leadership experts by Inc. Magazine, is a global authority on emotions and emotional intelligence. He has spent decades helping leaders develop the skills to better understand themselves and connect with their teams.

In our wonderful conversation, Josh reveals the “secret power” most leaders overlook: emotional intelligence — more specifically, the ability to understand and harness emotions in oneself and others to drive connection, well-being, and performance.

Josh’s new book, Emotion Rules: The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom, provides a practical roadmap for leaders who want to apply emotional intelligence to improve both individual and organizational performance. Drawing on decades of research and practice, the book challenges the myth that great leaders are cool, detached, and relentlessly rational. Instead, Josh shows that emotion and reason are deeply intertwined — and that understanding this interplay is essential for effective leadership.

Our conversation explores the idea that humans aren’t strictly rational beings, as highlighted by New York Times columnist David Brooks, who recently described our minds as “swirls” — dynamic, interconnected systems where emotion and reason are inseparable. Josh explains why this framing is critical for leaders who want to support employee well-being. We also examine how historical and cultural myths have shaped the way business views emotion, and what leaders can do to shift these outdated perspectives.

Practical skills for leaders are a key focus. Josh shares how to connect with one’s own feelings, reflect on emotional data, and act with presence. He introduces the TFA Triangle, showing how Thoughts, Feelings, and Actions interact, and how understanding this helps leaders respond more effectively to employees, especially during times of stress or change.

Josh explains emotional contagion and how leaders shape the overall culture and atmosphere of their teams. He also addresses one of today’s most pressing organizational challenges: burnout, explaining why it is driven more by unmet emotional needs than logistics — and what leaders can do to prevent it and support their teams.

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