The People Dividend Episode TDP Episode 019: From Emotional Intelligence to Hardiness: Unpacking the Secrets with Steven Stein

Dr. Steven Stein

“Emotional intelligence is a critical aspect of leadership,” says Dr. Steven Stein, a distinguished clinical psychologist and recognized authority on emotional intelligence (EQ). In this episode, Dr. Stein, founder and executive chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), shares insights from his extensive career in psychology, highlighting the impact of EQ in professional settings.

Dr. Stein discusses the evolution of emotional intelligence as a crucial factor in workplace dynamics and leadership effectiveness. He explores how MHS has pioneered EQ research, developing tools that have influenced millions worldwide. He also emphasizes the importance of EQ in promoting diversity and inclusion within organizations.

One intriguing aspect of the conversation is Dr. Stein’s work with reality TV shows, where he applies psychological principles to select candidates, offering a unique perspective on human behavior and social dynamics. Additionally, he introduces his book, “Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You,” co-authored with Paul Bartone, which delves into the concept of hardiness and its role in turning stress into growth.

Dr. Stein provides valuable advice for emerging psychologists and leaders, encouraging them to innovate and challenge conventional wisdom. This episode underscores the irreplaceable value of emotional intelligence in driving growth, innovation, and success, aligning with the podcast’s mission to redefine the significance of human capital in the world of work.

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‍Quotes

• “We really do have a purpose that we believe in—a mission, but I think that’s important for any organization. People who work for us believe in that mission, whether you’re on our clinical side and you really believe in helping kids and families, or in our public safety side where you believe in making the streets safer for people by locking up the people who should be locked up and not locking up the people who shouldn’t be.” (11:23 | Dr. Steven Stein) 
• “It’s interesting that you describe in the title of the book, ‘Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You.’ I think a lot of people think about, ‘How can I get rid of my stress?’ as opposed to making it work. …And that doesn't always work out very well if you try and suppress what’s going on. And that’s how we differ from resilience. Resilience is going through stress and then just coming back to where you were before you started. Hardiness involves actually learning from the stress and coming out even better than you were when you started.” (22:39 | Mike Horne & Dr. Steven Stein) 
• “I work with the coach of the US open tennis champion and how she was able to go from nowhere to beating Serena Williams for the final championship; how these concepts of ’hardiness’ fit into their training and made them achieve. And we take that and translate it to the average person in their workplace who has to do a project, has to do a presentation. How do you use these factors to get through those difficult times?” (23:46 | Dr. Steven Stein)