How to Cultivate the Most Important Skill in Business: Emotional Intelligence — with James Bryden

Send a question or message to Kate & SamIn our latest episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, Kate was honoured to sit down with James Bryden, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) expert and creator of the ‘Wisdumb’ Model. In our humble opinion, ‘Wisdumb’ is the greatest gift you can give yourself, your business and the people in your life — and in this episode we discuss how you can cultivate it.After a career as a footballer, eventually becoming Head Coach of an Indonesian soccer team and reaching ‘celebrity status’ in South East Asia, James then went on to become a business owner. After experiencing a devastating bankruptcy, James had to dig deep to learn more about himself and how to develop and manage others. He embarked on a mission to understand the role of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in developing people, both individually and in team environments, to create thriving workplace cultures, develop and retain good employees, and boost overall productivity and business profitability. James shares some great nuggest of wisdom that we know you’ll enjoy! If you want to achieve higher levels of fulfilment and success in business and life, don’t miss this episode.Highlights:A dive into James' background and his lifelong learning journey—from his struggles in school to becoming a leader in Emotional Intelligence (EQ).James shares the power of the Harrison Assessment and how it’s helped countless businesses to better understand their teams and unlock staff potential.Understanding how individuals display different behaviours in the workplace that impact  team dynamics and productivity.Why a positive workplace culture is crucial for employee retention and overall business success, and the key elements to creating psychological safety so all can thrive.James reveals his new "WisDumb Model" and its incredible potential in reshaping business culture.The key to fostering loyalty and reducing turnover in today’s competitive work environment.To get a copy of James’ eBook THE WISDUMB WAY, go to this link: https://productivitycoach.com.au/ebook/the-wisdumb-way/ If you found today’s episode insightful, don’t forget to subscribe to the Thriving Business Podcast so you never miss an episode! Want to hear more from James? Drop us a comment or leave a review with your thoughts. Tune in now!Connect with Your Hosts:Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness ✉️ Email: [email protected] Morris | The O8 🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew ✉️ Email: [email protected] Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ JOIN OUR WORKSHOPS🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/workshopsCOME ON THE 2026 BALI RETREAT🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/baliretreat2026