How emotional intelligence will help you become a better communicator and what we can learn from sharks | Stevie Dawn Carter

Emotional intelligence gets talked about constantly in leadership and communication circles, but most people couldn't give you a clear definition of what it actually means -- let alone explain how to develop it deliberately.Dr Stevie Dawn Carter can. She's a professional speaker, four-time business owner, and holds a doctorate in leadership from Colorado State University. With over 20 years of teaching and training experience, she has spent her career helping people become more visible, more connected, and more effective communicators.In this conversation Stevie breaks down emotional intelligence in plain terms and explains exactly why it's the foundation of great communication -- for speakers, leaders, coaches, and anyone who needs to connect with an audience.What you'll learn in this episodeWhat emotional intelligence actually means and why most definitions miss the point, how EQ directly impacts your ability to connect with and influence an audience, the difference between good and bad performance energy and how to control yours, why so many capable people feel invisible in professional settings and what to do about it, how to connect to your deeper why in a way that transforms how you show up, and why Stevie says you should be more like a shark.About Dr Stevie Dawn CarterDr Stevie Dawn Carter is a professional speaker and coach based in Mansfield, Texas. Her background spans the private and public sector, and she brings real-world stories and practical frameworks to every engagement. She approaches every room with humour, energy, and a commitment to getting people moving toward their best work.Her book Always Be The Shark is available via her website at drsteviedawn.com.Books mentioned in this episodeEmotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.If this episode resonated with youThe speakers who get booked consistently aren't always the most talented in the room. They're the ones who understand how to read people, adapt in the moment, and make every audience feel genuinely seen. If you want to find out what's actually blocking your growth as a speaker, take the free Speaker Growth Diagnostic at strategic-speaker.scoreapp.comRelated episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon LancasterVisit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.