In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I am thrilled to be joined by Justin Bariso – one of today’s leading voices on emotional intelligence and the author of EQ Applied – a book I consider my leadership bible and one I gift to every client. A gifted writer, his popular weekly Inc.com column has attracted millions of readers.

What makes Justin remarkable isn’t just his mastery of the theory, but his ability to make emotional intelligence practical, relatable, and immediately usable. In our conversation, he doesn’t just explain EQ – he brings it vividly to life through real-world stories, powerful lessons, and actionable tactics.

At a time when the pace of change is relentless, Justin shows us why EQ and human-centred leadership aren’t just nice-to-haves – they’re the defining advantages of modern leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Pause before you react. Emotional control begins with creating space between stimulus and response.

• Feelings aren’t facts — but they matter. Emotions drive behaviour; understanding them (yours and others’) is a leadership advantage.

• Empathy is a superpower. It can also be a potential source of burnout for leaders.

• Criticism is data. Extract the lesson.

• Kindness scales. Small gestures of respect and appreciation compound into loyalty and stronger relationships.

• Clarity beats emotion in conflict. Anchor conversations in facts, not feelings, to resolve tension.

• Lead with curiosity. It opens doors to solutions.

• Your emotional culture is contagious. As a leader, your mood sets the tone. Positivity and composure spread.

• Self-awareness is the foundation. You can’t manage what you don’t notice. Name your emotions to navigate them.