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Forbes
06-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Outsourcing Emotional Intelligence: The Tools We've Built Aren't The Tools We Need
Just a few years ago, I could have confidently started every single one of my Forbes posts by saying, 'Every reader of this post is human.' Today, I can't say that. Why? A.I. is consuming information faster than it's delivering it. So, what's my point? I recently had a conversation with a friend. She was frustrated at work. Apparently, since the advent of A.I. all communications she received from her supervisor were written by A.I. 'At first, I didn't care,' my friend told me. 'But, I just celebrated my twenty-year anniversary at the company. The recognition email I received from my boss was not sincere at all. It was obviously written by A.I.' Think about the difference between employee recognition and employee appreciation. Recognition is an action taken by a boss. Appreciation is an emotion felt by a boss. Both are necessary. So, what was actually frustrating my friend? Her manager outsourced emotional intelligence to A.I. Curious about the present and future of humankind's emotional intelligence, I decided to seek answers from an expert. CEO and Co-Founder of Six Seconds Joshua Freedman 'A.I. is already having an impact on emotional intelligence,' said Joshua Freedman, one of the world's top thought-leaders, and bestselling authors, on the concept of emotional intelligence. 'Every big tech advancement has created a huge impact on our social and emotional wellbeing. Of course, the impact changes depending on how we use the technology.' 'What made you chase the concept of emotional intelligence?' I asked Freedman on our recent video chat. Without hesitation, Freedman smiled, and responded, 'I was bad at it.' He then told me how he had spent his early career as a teacher. 'My 13 year old students seemed more emotionally intelligent than I was. As I started learning and practicing, I found it made all the difference for me, first as a teacher, then as a leader, husband, father, and person.' Fast forward to today, Joshua Freedman is the co-founder and CEO of Six Seconds, the global non-profit dedicated to teaching people how to use emotional intelligence (EQ). He owns the million-member EQ Network group on LinkedIN, and is a master certified coach. He teaches professionals all around the world practical tools to measure and create value with emotional intelligence. 'You've created quite the impact since you realized you needed to improve and understand your own emotional intelligence,' I told Freedman. 'You've helped organizations like FedEx, Qatar Airways, the US Navy, P&G, Microsoft, Intel, Amazon, HSBC, and the United Nations, use emotional intelligence to improve results. That's quite a list.' Again, Freedman smiled. 'It's so far beyond what I imagined 28 years ago,' he replied. 'I feel deeply honored to see the difference this makes in companies and in people's lives. Six Seconds' practical tools and science take emotional intelligence to the next level. When people practice emotional intelligence they improve their outcomes -- you can feel it, and you can measure it. That's why we do this. It's transformational.' Then, Freedman, a man who loves to laugh, paused. His face turned serious. 'The issue is, our data from 169 countries shows that the world is in a five-year decline of E.Q. Over that time-period, optimism dropped by 8.6%. And, for younger generations, the decline is nearly double that. I could go on with other markers. But, in short: we're in a global emotional recession with sustained declines in our capacity to connect, adapt, and move ahead.' That last statement caught my attention. A global emotional recession is a scary thought. And, it's no surprise. For the past couple years I've written numerous posts about the record-high increases in anxiety, depression, and even suicide. That matches Six Seconds' research on global emotional intelligence: rising levels of burnout, declines in empathy, trust, motivation, and increased loneliness. A perfect storm that is battering our wellbeing. 'Is A.I. contributing to this recession?' I asked. 'We're already outsourcing so much of our thinking, and even our feelings, to machines. That's only advancing. I don't think it helps to point fingers, but let's be strategic about this: As A.I. grows, we also need to grow. That's why I decided to write my new book, Emotion Rules – a practical guide to using feelings as resources. The real question is, how do we continue to improve our skills with emotions, and help others improve their emotional intelligence?' He's right. So, I asked him, 'What advice would you give individuals or leaders who want to improve emotional intelligence for themselves, their teams, or for their organizational culture?' 'You get what you measure,' replied Freedman. 'Many leaders overly rely on traditional intelligence, or I.Q., yet now machines have higher I.Q. than most people. We need to shift our focus to Emotional Intelligence (E.Q.) The great news is that E.Q. and I.Q. can work together so we can see and solve the challenges we're facing. I work with a lot of very smart people, and when they take the emotional intelligence assessment and see that EQ is actually logical, measurable, and practical, they love it.' According to Six Seconds, here's how practice emotional intelligence: Step 1: Get the Data 'Notice emotions. Name emotions. Track emotional reactions to every aspect of your life, work, relationships,' says Freedman. 'Smart people love data, and companies collect tons of it. We're also suggesting including data about your emotions, your employees emotions, or even your customers emotions. Literally, you're simply collecting emotional data. You felt something. What was it? What do you call it? How did you react to it?' Step 2: Appraise the Data 'You recorded the data on what you felt and how you reacted,' said Freedman. 'Now your job is to assess it. How did it go? Did you like your reaction and the response you got from others? What other options could you choose? We don't get to choose what happens, but we choose how we respond to it. This is about switching off autopilot and making that response more intentional.' Step 3: Connect with Purpose 'You've collected and analyzed the data,' said Freedman. 'The final step is connecting with your purpose. What is the impact you really want to have? The point is, we're having an impact every day, and when we use our emotional intelligence, we can make that impact count. It's not easy being human. It's not easy having emotions. But, when we can understand and process them, emotions can actually help us become the best spouse, the best parent, the best friend, employee, leader we can be. When used well, emotions literally give us energy to change, grow and thrive.' As we concluded our conversation, I circled back to my friend's story. 'Any advice for my friend?' I asked. 'Her feelings matter. They're messages to help her navigate a difficult situation. Now she can use emotional intelligence to move forward.'
CNA
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Can AI replicate EQ?
CNA938 Rewind Play On World Emotional Intelligence Day, The Wellness Hour explores a rising concern in the age of AI—are we neglecting EQ? While tools like ChatGPT may outscore most humans on IQ, they lag behind in EQ. Dr Sue McNamara from global EQ non-profit Six Seconds joins Cheryl Goh to discuss the risks of relying on emotionally tone-deaf AI, the rise of the 'emotional recession' in workplaces, and why empathy and emotional agility are now must-have skills for the future of work.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
When AI meets EQ: How these leaders are rethinking the future of work
As organisations continue to embrace rapid digital transformation , the intersection of artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence is becoming a defining force in shaping the future of work . But are leaders evolving fast enough to balance both? According to a global survey by Six Seconds, titled ' AI and EI: Workplace Status Report ,' emotional intelligence scores have declined by 5.5% since 2019, with rising levels of stress, burnout, and loneliness reported across the workforce. This emotional downturn hasn't been caused by AI alone, but its rapid implementation, often without adequate focus on the human experience, has become a contributing factor to what experts are calling a metacrisis of disconnection at work. In other words, the promise of smarter systems must be matched by smarter, more empathetic leadership. Without this balance, organisations risk creating more disengaged environments even as they invest heavily in innovation. To explore how leading organisations in the Middle East are navigating this delicate balance, using AI to enhance, not erode, the human connection, ETHRWorld Middle East organised a thought-provoking panel discussion titled " AI meets EQ: Shaping the future of HR leadership in the age of connection ," at The Economic Times Future Forward Middle East Summit 2025. During the session, Global Head - Solution Advisory - HCM & Global Payroll at Ramco Systems; Ahmed Al Mheiri, Senior Vice President, Group Human Capital Shared Services at ADNOC; Carys Richards, Executive Vice President People - International at Mastercard; Suhrid Chaudhuri, Executive Vice President, Group People Strategy at Al Ghurair; and Haitham Akl, Chief Human Capital Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding (Chair) shared their insights on the evolving role of AI and emotional intelligence in reshaping the employee experience and driving business success. Let's explore a few key takeaways from their discussion. Implement AI with a conscious focus on human emotions and needs Ahmed Al Mheiri discussed how AI and emotional intelligence (EQ) work hand-in-hand to enhance human capital strategies. 'AI can revolutionise how we work, but it must be embedded thoughtfully with an understanding of human emotions and needs,' he explained. He further shed light on several initiatives at ADNOC, showcasing how the company seamlessly integrates AI with empathy to drive success. One notable example is the 'AI to AI: The Power of Artificial Intelligence' initiative, which aims to guide employees through the technological transformation with empathy and care. Another successful initiative he highlighted is the 'AI for Everyone' training programme, which has successfully educated over 30,000 employees so far. This initiative was designed not only to upskill employees but also to ease any anxieties surrounding the introduction of AI. All these initiatives play an essential role in blending AI with emotional intelligence , further ensuring that employees feel empowered rather than overwhelmed by the new technology. As a result, it leads to smoother transitions, higher employee engagement, and better outcomes for both employees and the organisation. Ensure AI complements, not replaces, the human connection Carys Richards emphasised the importance of AI complementing, rather than replacing, the human connection in the workplace. She shared an example from Mastercard, where AI is integrated into their talent marketplace, 'Unlocked', to match employees with personalised learning opportunities and mentors. In her view, AI aids employees in identifying career growth paths, but it's the leaders who provide the critical context and direction. 'Leaders bring the personal touch that AI cannot, guiding employees on how to leverage the tool for real, meaningful growth,' Carys explained. This dynamic approach ensures that AI is used as a starting point for meaningful conversations, enriching the employee experience while reinforcing the value of human leadership in career development. Empathy complements AI in creating people-centric HR solutions Shailaja emphasised that AI must be complemented by an empathetic HR approach. 'AI can identify distress patterns, such as financial strain, which can help HR leaders offer proactive support to employees. This combination of AI and empathy fosters trust and retention,' she noted. She further highlighted how AI in payroll and HR systems personalises employee experiences, improving both efficiency and satisfaction. For example, AI-powered chatbots streamline payroll queries, while AI detects anomalies in payroll data, preventing errors. Additionally, AI aids compensation reviews by aligning performance data with company budgets, ensuring fair decisions. Challenging the status quo: AI's impact on workforce planning and human-centricity Suhrid Chaudhuri took a bold stance during the discussion, challenging the conventional narrative around AI and emotions in workforce planning. For him, AI is simply a tool, much like fire was to early humans or engines were during the Industrial Revolution. It's not something to fear, nor is it a threat to human-centric strategies; it's an opportunity to innovate and evolve. AI, he stressed, should be seen as a powerful tool that enables better decision-making, not a replacement for human insights. 'Our approach is to use AI to drive better decisions, freeing up time from mundane tasks so we can focus on adding value,' Suhrid explained. This mindset, he argued, is key to transforming workforce planning. AI allows companies to process vast amounts of data quickly, enabling more relevant and timely insights for decision-makers. However, the true effectiveness of AI depends on the quality of data fed into these systems. Without accurate, relevant input, AI can only produce so much. 'It's about the data we input, AI tools are only as good as the data they process,' he emphasised. Suhrid highlighted Al Ghurair's approach, which focuses on data-driven decision-making. They've fostered a culture where data 'ninjas', dedicated teams of data experts, ensure that AI tools are fed with clean, actionable data. This approach not only enhances productivity but also ensures that workforce planning is more agile and adaptive to today's volatile, fast-paced environment. From Suhrid's perspective, AI helps companies better navigate unpredictability by identifying trends and patterns that help them plan and adjust strategies in real time, without losing the human touch. The future of work: Embed AI into the business evolution To conclude, Haitham Akl shared his thoughts on AI's integration into business evolution that will define the future of work. 'AI is an enabler, not a replacement for human effort. It should enhance what we do and make us better,' he explained. He further emphasised that the depth of AI integration within a company depends on how each leader chooses to embrace the technology. In his vision, focusing on AI as a tool to empower employees and make smarter business decisions, companies can leverage AI to enhance both their processes and their people.
