Exploring Internal Family Systems Coaching with Janet Livingstone

In this episode of The Leaderful Podcast, we sit down with Janet Livingstone, an Internal Family Systems-informed coach and facilitator with global experience helping leaders develop emotional intelligence, navigate complexity, and unlock deeper self-awareness. Drawing on her work across cultures and industries (from Central Europe to Asia), Janet shares a rich perspective on how leadership is shaped by context, identity, and the unseen inner dynamics we all carry. This conversation moves beyond surface-level leadership advice and into the inner world of leaders: the parts of ourselves that drive behaviour, the emotions we avoid, and the patterns that quietly shape our teams. Together, we explore how developing emotional intelligence isn’t a solo pursuit, but a collective, relational practice - and how leaders can create the conditions for more honest, human, and effective collaboration. In this episode, we explore: Why emotional intelligence is a foundational (and learnable) leadership skill How Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help leaders understand their inner “parts” and patterns The impact of culture and history on leadership styles and assumptions Why self-awareness is a team sport, not an individual exercise How leaders can shift from “expert” to facilitator to unlock team intelligence Creative approaches to team development, including role play, somatic awareness, and even music If you’re a leader navigating complexity, culture, or change - and are ready to look inward as a path to leading outward more effectively - this episode offers both practical insight and a powerful reframe of what leadership really requires. Learn more about The Co. → a leadership development opportunity for impact-conscious and power-curious leaders.