Episode 280: Amy Jacobson - Emotional Intelligence
This is Episode #280 of The Limitless Podcast with Nick Jonsson, and we are pleased to welcome Amy Jacobson, Emotional Intelligence Specialist and author of The Emotional Intelligence Advantage.
In this episode, Amy explains why emotional intelligence has moved from being “nice to have” to being a core capability for leadership, culture, and performance — especially as organisations face rapid digital transformation, AI acceleration, and constant change.
A key theme in this conversation is what most leaders get wrong about change.
Amy breaks it down with an uncomfortable truth: when leaders try to sell change as “perfect” or push people to be excited, they often trigger the very resistance they’re trying to avoid. Why? Because every change comes with loss — loss of comfort, routine, identity, expertise, familiarity, or certainty. When leaders don’t acknowledge that loss, people’s defence mechanisms kick in, and even good changes can become emotionally rejected.
We also explore why emotional intelligence is inseparable from:
psychological safety
difficult conversations
high-performing teams
leading through uncertainty
and the future balance between AI and the human aspect
This episode is practical, direct, and deeply relevant for leaders who want results without burnout — and culture without slogans.
Connect with Amy to continue the conversation:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jacobson-emotional-intelligence/
🎧 Find more episodes on our website:https://www.nickjonsson.com/limitless-podcast