Host: Joseph Lewin

Guest: Sidney Evans

Episode originally aired live on Jun 30, 2025 on LinkedIn,

Produced by Sell Through Social.

🎯 Episode Snapshot

As AI becomes part of everyone’s daily workflow, technical skills are getting commoditized. What won’t be commoditized? Your ability to understand people, lead them, and connect with them.

In this episode, Joseph and Sidney dig into emotional intelligence (EQ) as a competitive advantage in an AI-driven world—especially for leaders.

🤖 AI Is Rising. EQ Just Got More Valuable.

Sidney’s core argument:

The companies that develop emotionally intelligent leaders will have a competitive edge in the AI era.

Where EQ shines while AI struggles:

• Human-centered leadership – AI can handle data and logic; leaders still have to handle humans.
• Ethical decision-making – AI can’t fully grasp nuance, context, or long-term human impact.
• Team cohesion – People don’t bond with tools; they bond with leaders who listen, care, and guide.
• Change management – In seasons of disruption, emotionally intelligent leaders help teams navigate fear, uncertainty, and resistance.

🧠 What Emotional Intelligence Actually Is

Sidney’s working definition:

EQ is the ability to regulate, manage, and influence your behavior and emotions—especially in relation to others.

Key components he highlights:

• Self-awareness – Noticing your internal state, triggers, and patterns.
• Self-regulation – Managing your reactions instead of being run by them.
• Empathy (not sympathy)
• Sympathy is “I feel bad for you” (about me and my feelings).
• Empathy is “I see how you feel; let me understand more and support you” (about you).
• Influence – Using your emotional awareness to positively guide people and situations.

🧩 People Styles & EQ: The DISC-Like Lens

Sidney uses a DISC-style framework to help leaders read and respond to others:

• D – Dominant (results-oriented): Direct, decisive, “Let’s fix it” energy.
• I – Intellect / Influencing (people-oriented): Focused on connection, energy, and people.
• S – Steady & Stable (service-oriented): Loyal, calm, prefers stability and harmony.
• C – Cautious & Conscientious (process-oriented): Analytical, detail-driven, system-focused.

Example: walking into a cold room

• D: “It’s cold. I’m turning up the heat.”
• I: “Hey, is anyone else cold?”
• S: “I’m glad I brought my sweater.”
• C: “I wonder if the thermostat or AC is broken.”

Emotionally intelligent leaders adjust their communication style based on the person in front of them, rather than just defaulting to their own style.

🗣 Better Questions > “You Good?”

Sidney points out that “You good?” is a useless check-in; everyone just says “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Better questions to build connection and insight:

• “What’s energizing you today?”
• “What project are you most excited about right now?”
• “What feels challenging for you this week?”

Team meeting check-in idea:

• Ask: “On a scale from 1–10, how are you feeling today?”
• 10 = Amazing
• 8 = Pretty good
• 5 = Struggling
• Use their number as a springboard for deeper questions one-on-one.

And for growth:

• Use 360° feedback – ask several people (not just your boss) for honest feedback around specific areas you want to improve.

🪫 Dysregulated Leaders Can’t Regulate Teams

Parallels with parenting:

• Just like a dysregulated adult can’t calm a dysregulated child,
• a dysregulated leader cannot bring clarity and calm to a stressed team.

EQ for leaders means:

• Not needing your team to meet your emotional needs.
• Not taking every comment personally.
• Being able to stay grounded when others are anxious, frustrated, or afraid.
• Creating an environment where people feel seen, heard, and safe—without lowering standards.

🧭 Identity, Direction & Work

Emotional intelligence gets much easier when you know:

1. Who you are
2. Where you’re going

Sidney recommends a few powerful self-questions:

1. What am I really aiming for in life (not just in my job)?
2. What is my personal value proposition?
3. What’s my personal tagline / brand statement?

Example from Sidney:

“To be the voice for people who don’t have a voice.”

Once you know your “tagline,” you can ask:

• Does my current role align with that?
• Does this company or industry support who I want to become?
• Am I in an environment where my EQ can grow, or am I constantly in survival mode?

If you don’t define who you are, someone else will do it for you.

📓 Practical EQ Habits You Can Start Today

Sidney’s go-to practices:

1. Daily Journaling (25+ years of this!)

Every night, ask yourself:

• What 3 things did I do really well today?
• What 3 things could I improve next time?

This might be big stuff (how you led a meeting) or small stuff (how you responded to a barista or a customer service issue). It’s all reps.

2. 360° Feedback

Regularly ask a mix of people (peers, managers, friends):

• “What’s one thing I do well that I should do more of?”
• “What’s one thing I do that holds me back?”

3. Model Vulnerability (especially as a leader)

• Admit when you don’t know something.
• Own mistakes instead of deflecting.
• Share your own growth areas so people feel safe to own theirs.

4. Aim for 1% Better

• Don’t try to become emotionally brilliant overnight.
• Focus on tiny adjustments, daily:
• Pause before reacting.
• Ask one better question.
• Reflect on one interaction.

🧵 Emotional Intelligence + AI = Your Edge

As Joseph put it:

• Ideas are becoming a commodity.
• AI lowers the “value of being smart” in many domains.
• What still stands out: your ability to influence humans, align teams, and turn ideas into reality through people.
• EQ is the multiplier for every other skill you have.

📚 Connect with Sidney Evans

Books & Content

• 📖 Run Your Own Race — Sidney’s bestselling book on building your personal brand and direction in life.

🔑 Key Takeaways to Remember

• Emotional intelligence will differentiate leaders and companies in an AI-heavy world.
• EQ is not about being nice; it’s about awareness, regulation, empathy, and influence.
• Ask better questions and do daily micro-reflection to grow your EQ.
• Know your personal tagline and align your work with it.
• A regulated leader can regulate a team. Work on you first.