A team that knows its strengths doesn’t just perform better. They communicate better, recover from setbacks faster, and collaborate more effectively. - Questing Insight

Most teams aren't underperforming because of a lack of effort. They're underperforming because they haven't had the chance to fully understand what they each bring to the table and how to build around it.
#teamdevelopment #strengthsbasedleadership #teamcollaboration #columbusohio

Speaking about emotional intelligence at a conference in Sandusky, Ohio.

Not all EQ frameworks are built for the same outcomes. Choosing the wrong one for your team can actively work against the behavior change you're trying to create. This is something I wish someone had told me earlier in my own career; now it's one of my favorite topics to bring into a room.

A group of individuals engaged at a conference session.

Went to the Quarterly Business Symposium in Columbus yesterday and spent the day discussing entrepreneurship, community networking, and relationship building in our modern day. The Columbus entrepreneurial community continues to impress me; grateful to be part of it.
#columbusohio #entrepreneurship

Emotional Intelligence isn’t about being nice. It’s about being aware. - Questing Insight

EQ gets misunderstood a lot. It's not about keeping the peace or softening every edge. It's about knowing what's driving your reactions and choosing what to do with that information. That's a learnable skill. Most teams never get the chance to practice it.

#emotionalintelligence #selfawareness

Speaking at a conference in Columbus Ohio at WitCon.

A few minutes before taking the stage at WitCon 2025. Turns out a tech conference is exactly the right place for this kind of conversation. The best part of speaking is always the conversations with attendees afterward.

#emotionalintelligence #leadershipdevelopment #womenwhospeak #columbusohio

Went outside my comfort zone yesterday and attended a meet up with chamber members in my community. Networking has always been a bit tough for me, but I’m glad I went! It was nice talking with others who are on a similar journey. Sometimes you have to find your own circle within the community.

Visiting a Death Café: New blog posted. The background features a book on a table about grief next to a coffee cup and leather journal.

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, and yet it's one of the hardest things to talk about openly. My latest blog post explores what happened when I attended a Death Café yesterday, and what it revealed through an emotional intelligence lens. Link to my full blog post in my bio. #EQ

A book about grief held up on a table next to a cappuccino and a table lamp.

How does grief/loss impact emotional intelligence skills? That’s what I was pondering after visiting a Death Café today (a community event for talking about loss with others). Much to think about from the EQ perspective. Drafting up a blog post about this, stay tuned. #emotionalintelligence #EQ

Presenting a conference session on Emotional Intelligence.

Long before founding Questing Insight, this was already the work: standing in front of rooms, talking about emotional intelligence and why it matters. The business is new, but the passion behind it isn’t.

#EmotionalIntelligence #EQatWork #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalFacilitator

Gallup Certified Strengths Coach

What do a coach in Ohio and a coach in Romania have in common? More than you might think. Mihaela and I chatted this morning about coaching across cultures, generational shifts, and leading with curiosity. Strengths-based development has a way of building bridges across just about any distance.

Too many interests? Good.

If you've ever been told to pick a lane, my latest blog post is for you. For the chronic "hobby samplers" who move from one interest to the next, or for the leaders who want more creativity in their teams, check it out. Turns out, curiosity isn't a distraction. It might just be your greatest asset!

Had the privilege of attending this impactful event this evening held at the Rochester Event Center in Columbus. Heard encouraging stories from these 3 women on challenges, personal aspirations, and ways to get more involved in the local community. #buildingcommunity #mentorship #civicleadership

Workplace burnout isn’t just about the workload…isn’t also about the people.

According to a 2025 study reported by Forbes, 2 out of 3 employees experienced burnout last year, and half said it wasn't just the workload. It’s the people side of work.

That's why understanding what everyone brings to the team matters.
Are you currently leveraging your team’s strengths?

This question actually came up during my conversation yesterday with an individual while we were reviewing her strengths report. We all have different preferences and tendencies when it comes to problem solving. Do you know yours?
#strengthsreport #coachingconversations
#personaldevelopment

An outline of the shape of Ohio. Inside the outline reads the question: “How are you building community today?"

When we don't know our neighbors, that lack of trust ripples across our community. New connections are harder to form. 

Want to improve your relationship-building skills? Start local. Civic leadership and engagement begins in our homes and communities first. #communitybuilding

“When you understand human behavior and why people make the choices they do, you begin to evaluate disappointment a bit differently."

This quote, taken from Anna Goldfarb’s book “Modern Friendships,” has been my favorite one to reflect on this week. Always a good reminder to replace judgment with curiosity and understanding.

The Connection between Feedback & Psychology: Why it hits so hard & how to approach it better

Feedback often hits harder than we expect, and psychology helps explain why. What we say matters, but how it lands depends on trust, context, and timing.

Read more about this in my latest blog (article linked in bio), including a framework for how to hold better feedback conversations. #feedback

How do you approach EQ?

Many people pick an EQ framework without knowing what sets it apart from others.

How can you choose the Emotional Intelligence model that suits you best?

Check out my latest Substack post to help you break this question down (plus an EQ Roadmap PDF you can download).

Leadership isn't what you do at work.

It's what you model when you disagree with a neighbor.

It's the way you navigate conflict in spaces where no one's tracking your performance.

Want better workplace culture? Start by showing up better everywhere else.

Emotional intelligence isn’t about controlling your emotions. It's about understanding them before they control you.

Labeling someone as “Difficult” can feel like a fact to us. But it’s just one story filtered through our bias. Asking ourselves:

“What am I missing or not seeing in this situation?"
“How else could this be understood?"

These can help us create space between our reaction time and our response. #EQ

A book next to a cup of coffee.

Who are all the people who help you get through a single day?

Ubuntu reminds us that that we don't exist in isolation, even when it feels that way. We're all shaped by countless small acts of care from others, most of which we'll never fully account for.

A book in the foreground, and feet on a treadmill in the background.

Tried reading "Deep Work” on the treadmill. Retained nothing. Point taken, Cal Newport.
The question that arises: How often do we fragment our attention span fearing we’re "not maximizing our time"?
No more multitasking with serious books (but I'm keeping my ability to laugh at myself for trying).

A brown coffee cup next to a book on a white table.

Why do we talk past each other?

We're having different conversations:
- Logical (looking for solutions)
- Emotional (looking for understanding)
- Social (defining relationship)

Better communication starts with matching what kind of conversation the other person is having. #personalgrowth

A book next to a black coffee cup on a table.

Your emotions and empathy are an asset to leadership, not a liability.

You can care about someone AND give them hard feedback. You can be empathetic AND hold people accountable. You can be kind AND effective as a leader.

It's not one or the other. It's both.

#personaldevelopment #feedback

An open book on a table with a coffee cup nearby.

The best insights don't come from finishing books quickly. They come from sitting with ideas long enough to let them change how you think.

#brenebrown #daretolead #personaldevelopment #softskills #leadership #growthmindset