Unlocking the Power of Emotional Intelligence—A Journey Worth Taking

How developing EQ transformed my leadership, deepened global connections, and became one of the most rewarding investments of my career.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Emotional Intelligence (EQ) evolve from a promising concept into one of the most transformative forces in both business and personal development. As part of the TTI team, I’ve seen firsthand how EQ has moved from a concept to become one of our core sciences. More than 15 years ago, when we formally integrated EQ into our framework, I made a deliberate choice—not just to understand emotional intelligence, but to develop it within myself.

What I discovered along the way was nothing short of life-changing.

EQ is not just a corporate buzzword or the latest self-help trend. It’s a powerful framework that enhances performance, deepens relationships, and sharpens decision-making. And here’s the key insight from my own journey: even small, intentional steps can drive significant change. Instead of trying to overhaul everything at once, I focused on improving just one or two emotional competencies at a time—and the growth I experienced was immediate and tangible.

One of the most profound shifts came through developing self-awareness. By tuning into my own emotions, reactions, and triggers, I gained clarity that transformed the way I communicated, the way I made decisions, and the way I showed up for others. I became more present, more thoughtful, and ultimately, more impactful.

As an international team member, being in tune with my emotions has been a tremendous help in my journey to connect, understand, and influence our customers around the world. Learning to understand their view of different topics—and not focusing solely on my own—helped me connect with them at a much deeper level. This ability to empathize across cultures has proven invaluable in building trust, navigating differences, and creating meaningful, lasting relationships.

Is my journey completed? Absolutely not! The more I learn, the more I realize how much more I still have to go and I am committed to continuing to work and learn about EQ for the rest of my life.

The beauty of EQ is that it’s not confined to a training room, a workshop, or an executive retreat. You can practice emotional intelligence every single day—in every conversation, every challenge, and every decision. It’s woven into the fabric of everyday life, making it one of the most practical and high-impact tools for both personal and professional growth.

And the best thing is, you don’t need to overhaul your life to see results. You just need to begin. 

Start small. Focus your efforts. Reflect on your progress. Emotional intelligence is not about achieving perfection—it’s about making meaningful progress, step by step. And the payoff? It’s extraordinary, touching every dimension of your life and work.

If you’re looking for a way to become a stronger leader, a better teammate, or a more grounded and resilient version of yourself, I encourage you to take that first step toward building your emotional intelligence. It’s an investment that will deliver value—not just for your career, but for your relationships, your well-being, and your legacy—for years to come.

Author: Vanessa Boettcher , Chief Operating Officer, TTI Success Insights