I’m in the process of completing my research for my doctorate in organizational psychology. This research involves interviews with women executives in large U. S. organizations. As I begin to analyze these very honest, insightful interviews, one word keeps coming up — one word that is critical to being an effective leader.

There are not many words more dreaded at work than, “I have some feedback for you.” So, how do we break this cycle of fear and begin to turn “feedback” into an ongoing positive and productive tool for growth and motivation?

Many organizations understand that in today’s business environment, employees need more than traditional technical skills for the organization to not only be successful but to avoid becoming extinct. And, emotional intelligence (EI) is one of the most common ways they are attempting to assess their employees’ ability to grow and adapt. But, can EI be taught and developed?