Welcome back to One Spark Away, a space where we talk about the quiet shifts happening in our lives and at work. In this episode, we’re looking at why so many people feel burned out, how leadership is changing, and why emotional intelligence (EQ) is more important than ever in our fast-paced world.
We start by talking about Gen Z at work. While they are sometimes misunderstood as "lazy," they are actually high-achievers with strong inner motivation who expect to see results quickly. However, they are also facing a mental and emotional health crisis fueled by loneliness, leading many to feel low satisfaction or turn to "silent quitting." We discuss how leaders can better support them by giving faster feedback and really listening.
About Our Guest: Simona Luca
Simona Luca is a clinical psychologist and systemic psychotherapist in training, based in Timișoara, Romania. She works both from her private practice and online, supporting clients around the world.
What makes Simona’s perspective especially compelling is that she actively bridges two professional worlds. Alongside her clinical practice, her work as a Human Resources Business Partner in the IT industry has her partnering with both employees and leadership teams to navigate interpersonal dynamics and build healthier, more effective collaboration.
As a systemic psychotherapist, she approaches relationships through an attachment-based lens, exploring how early relational patterns shape the way we connect, communicate, and respond to conflict. She brings insights from both the organizational and therapeutic spaces into her work, supporting primarily families and couples in understanding their dynamics, strengthening emotional bonds, and creating more secure, resilient relationships.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
-Gen Z's True Motivation: Why they aren't lazy, but instead need to see that their work matters and want frequent "Kudos" and feedback.
-The "Emotional Recession": Why global emotional intelligence scores are dropping and how it’s causing more burnout.
-Real Leadership: How great leaders treat people as human beings, not just "resources," and why micromanaging always fails.
-EQ for Parents: Why it’s so important for parents to show their kids how to talk about feelings and stay calm when things get tough.
-Silent Quitting: Why Gen Z won't stick around if they don't feel heard and how to keep them engaged.
-Handling Conflict: How to talk about the "elephant in the room" without blaming others.
-Burnout: Why burnout is a shared responsibility between employer and employee
Connect with Simona:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575251950232
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simona_luca_psiholog/
Website: https://www.psihologsimonaluca.ro/
Wanna know more about EQ? Let’s get in touch!
https://stan.store/mindsparkscoach
Filmed at: https://www.instagram.com/vivoproduction.ro/
Read the Report:
Six Seconds: State of the Heart 2024: https://www.6seconds.org/emotional-intelligence/research/
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