Decision-Making: Choosing Under Pressure

🎙️ Episode 5 — Decision-Making

Welcome back to the EQ Overview. Today’s episode dives into one of the most underestimated superpowers of emotional intelligence: decision-making. This isn’t just about choosing between A and B. It’s about how we use — or misuse — our emotions in the process of making everyday and high-stakes decisions. In this conversation, we explore the three foundational skills that shape emotionally intelligent decision-making:

1. Impulse Control
   
   Can you hit pause before reacting? We unpack how a lack of impulse control can tank opportunities (like Harry’s costly rant in a proposal) — and how developing this “inner pause button” can change your leadership, relationships, and sanity.

2. Reality Testing
   
   Are you seeing clearly — or coloring your world with fear or assumption? Learn how to challenge your mental filters and interpret situations with greater objectivity. (Spoiler: not every frown from your boss means disaster.)

3. Problem Solving
   
   Your emotions aren’t just something to manage — they’re part of the solution. We share stories (like Linda helping her husband find a new career) that show how emotional clarity and structure can lead to better outcomes.

   💭 Ask Yourself: When things get tense, do I react quickly… or reflect first? Do I tend to catastrophize or gloss over problems instead of facing them head-on? Am I using my emotions as a tool… or letting them take the wheel?
   
   📚 Recommended Reading: The EQ Edge by Steven Stein & Howard Book A deep dive into all facets of emotional intelligence — packed with tools to improve your EQ and see results at work and home.
   
   🧭 Want a clearer roadmap for growth? Our EQ coaching uses the gold-standard EQ-i 2.0 assessment to turn fuzzy feedback into actionable insight. You’ll walk away with a personalized game plan — and better tools to lead yourself and others. Explore EQ Coaching →