Emotional Intelligence & Empathy

Why we picked it: Plain and simple: this audiobook is straightforward and effective for giving your team a working knowledge of EQ. In a logical, step-by-step format, Travis Bradberry outlines what EQ really is and explains in great detail the traits and experiences you're likely to encounter in a person with either high or low emotional intelligence. Driving home his points by way of examples and personal experiences, Bradberry creates an easily digestible framework for teams just learning about understanding and engaging with EQ. 

Why we picked it: You don’t quit your job, you quit your boss ... How many times have you heard that saying? As this listen affirms, relationships are the true basis for joyful and productive work environments. Going beyond the baseline of having strong emotional intelligence, David Brooks defines the building blocks for all good relationships—at work and beyond—which boil down to how we truly see, understand, and, ultimately, connect with all people in our lives. How to Know a Person is an exceptional listen for teams craving deeper connection and stronger cohesion. 

Why we picked it: Perfect for teams that love to nerd out on cold hard facts while honing a new skill, this audiobook reveals the science behind how empathy works and why it’s vitally important in the workplace. Synthesizing findings from sociology, developmental psychology, and evolutionary theory with her own expertise as a neuroscientist, Helen Riess deconstructs the act of empathy and provides a tested seven-step system for being aware of and harnessing this soft skill in all kinds of interactions. With insights and strategies for reversing scapegoating, leading with empathy, and practicing self-compassion, The Empathy Effect is an educational, easy listen.

Why we picked it: From renowned researcher Brené Brown, this listen is a great choice for teams ready to take a deep dive into meaningful connections and how to build them at work and beyond. This audiobook outlines scores of emotional nuances, helping listeners more objectively understand their own experiences so they can best respond to them and share them to help others dealing with similar feelings and facing similar challenges. Narrated in Brown’s characteristically casual conversation style, Atlas of the Heart is as informative as it is approachable. 

Why we picked it: This audiobook centers around the guiding principle that all humans should learn to a.) accept our emotions and b.) understand them. From there, anything is possible and the world is much simpler to navigate. Susan David brings her impressive background as a psychologist at Harvard Medical School to the metaphorical table with both scientific and easy-to-grasp anecdotes. Your team will come to understand that there is always more than one way out of a fire; though when our minds get cloudy with panic, we can often see only one. 

Why we picked it: From an award-winning author, researcher, and educator, this audiobook teaches us to accept and learn from our emotions as they arise, even in the workplace. As Karla McLaren acknowledges, many of us continue to do what we are taught in childhood: bury our emotions, especially the ones labeled negative like anger, fear, and anxiety. With the author’s proven practices and calming voice to guide them, your team members will learn how to identify their emotions, find the courage to face them head on, and express them without alienating others. For teams that regularly handle a relatively high degree of stress, The Language of Emotions is a great choice.