EP 05 | Practical Steps to Improve Your EI with Brent Darnell | Part 3

In Part 3 of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast’s Emotional Intelligence Series, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles welcome Brent Darnell back to turn everything discussed in Parts 1 and 2 into practical action.The big question in this episode is simple: Once you understand emotional intelligence, how do you actually improve it?Brent walks through his Emotional Intelligence Roadmap, a practical framework for understanding where you are today, identifying where you want to improve, and creating a plan to get there. The conversation begins with knowing your own story and recognizing the patterns, triggers, strengths, and experiences that have shaped the way you lead. From there, the conversation moves into self-awareness, self-leadership, communication, empathy, emotional regulation, resilience, and decision-making under pressure.A major theme throughout the episode is that emotions are information. Learning to recognize emotions before they escalate gives leaders an opportunity to pause, process what is happening, and choose a better response. The group also discusses how stress can affect problem-solving and why managing your emotional state matters when making decisions in high-pressure situations. In this episode:Identifying patterns in your own storyBuilding stronger self-awarenessBalancing assertiveness with empathyCommunicating more clearlyRecognizing emotional triggersMaking better decisions under stressBuilding resilience and optimismCreating a written development planUsing reflection and accountability to support lasting behavior changeOne of the biggest takeaways from this three-part series is that emotional intelligence takes practice. Brent compares it to building any other skill. Growth comes through repetition, reflection, accountability, and time. Small changes in how you respond can eventually become lasting changes in how you lead. And the work does not stop at the final mile marker.The goal is lifelong learning: create a plan, measure your progress, find people who will hold you accountable, reflect on what is working, and keep moving forward. Special thanks to J Mikel Solutions, our Community Spotlight sponsor for this episode.Built by those who do. Shared for those who will.