The Weekly Workplace

Episode #158: What Today’s Workforce Is Really Asking For: Confidence, Clarity, and Leadership

About This Episode
We recently asked leaders and professionals what training they need most right now. The answers weren’t random — they told a story. In this episode, we unpack the top themes from our training needs survey, including the overwhelming demand for leadership development, coaching skills, communication, and change management. What does this say about today’s workplace? And what does it reveal about the emotional climate leaders are navigating? This is more than data — it’s a snapshot of where the workforce is right now.
 
See the Data Snapshot
Curious what professionals across Missouri are experiencing right now?
👉 View the Training Needs Report Snapshot
 
Want to Be Part of What Comes Next?
As we’ve been reviewing this data, one theme keeps coming up: A lot of leaders and professionals are navigating these challenges on their own, and they don’t have to.
We’re beginning to explore building a network of training, HR, and people development professionals across Missouri to share ideas, learn from each other, and tackle real workplace challenges together. Nothing formal yet, we’re just starting to shape it.
If you’d like to be part of that conversation (or help build it), we’d love your input:
👉 Share your interest in the MTI Network Interest Form
 
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️Have you ever found yourself in a leadership role and thought,"I should know how to do this… but I don’t?"
What helped you figure it out?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
 
References
Beck, R. & Harter, J. (2015 April 21). Managers Account for 70% of Variance in Employee Engagement. Gallup Business Journal.
Wharton@Work. (2024). Managing to Fail? Why New Leaders Need Training. Wharton Arestry Institute of Executive Education, University of Pennsylvania. 
 

Episode #157: From Knee‑Jerk to Clear‑Headed When Things Go Wrong

About This Episode
When something goes wrong at work, your first 30 seconds say more than you think. In this episode, we explore how leaders unintentionally set the tone in high‑pressure moments — through reactions, silence, energy, and even breathing. We break down what emotional hijacking looks like, why your team may start creating stories when your responses aren’t clear, and how a simple pause can shift everything. With honest examples and practical strategies, this conversation helps you move from reacting to responding — building trust in small, steady moments.
 
Want to Go Deeper?
Understanding emotional intelligence is one thing—measuring and developing it is where real growth happens. We offer EQ-i 2.0® assessment bundles designed to help individuals and leaders better understand how emotional intelligence shows up in their work. Each assessment bundle includes a 1:1 coaching session with a certified EQ-i coach to help interpret results and create a development plan.
Available options include:
EQ-i 2.0 Workplace Assessment – Understand your emotional intelligence and how it affects everyday work interactions.
EQ-i 2.0 Leadership Report – Explore how emotional intelligence impacts leadership effectiveness.
EQ 360 Assessment – Gain insight from colleagues, direct reports, and supervisors to see how others experience your leadership.
📩 Interested in learning more or scheduling an assessment? Contact us at mti@missouri.edu.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️Have you ever wished you could redo your ‘first 30 seconds’? Tell us the story.
 
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Frankl, Viktor. (1959). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

Episode #156: The Mood of the Crew Starts With You

About This Episode
You don’t have to say a word to influence your team—you're already doing it. In this episode, we dig into the subtle (and often unintentional) ways leaders shape the energy of their workplace. From rushed responses to silence, from consistency to emotional spillover; your daily behaviors are setting the tone more than you think.
We talk through real examples of how quickly a “vibe shift” can spread, why your team may be making up stories when communication is unclear, and how small habits, like how you greet people or handle stress, can either build trust or quietly erode it.
Want to Go Deeper?
Understanding emotional intelligence is one thing—measuring and developing it is where real growth happens. We offer EQ-i 2.0® assessment bundles designed to help individuals and leaders better understand how emotional intelligence shows up in their work. Each assessment bundle includes a 1:1 coaching session with a certified EQ-i coach to help interpret results and create a development plan.
Available options include:
EQ-i 2.0 Workplace Assessment – Understand your emotional intelligence and how it affects everyday work interactions.
EQ-i 2.0 Leadership Report – Explore how emotional intelligence impacts leadership effectiveness.
EQ 360 Assessment – Gain insight from colleagues, direct reports, and supervisors to see how others experience your leadership.
📩 Interested in learning more or scheduling an assessment? Contact us at mti@missouri.edu.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What’s one small habit you use to set a positive tone for your team?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.

Episode #155: The Moment That Defines a Leader

About This Episode
What happens when something goes wrong on the job? A leader’s reaction in that moment can shape how the entire team responds. In this episode of The Weekly Workplace, we kick off a new series on emotional intelligence and why it matters far beyond the buzzword. From job sites to offices, the ability to recognize and regulate emotions affects communication, trust, and team performance. Join us as we explore why emotional intelligence isn’t about “soft” feelings—it’s about the people skills that drive real workplace results.
Want to Go Deeper?
Understanding emotional intelligence is one thing—measuring and developing it is where real growth happens. We offer EQ-i 2.0® assessment bundles designed to help individuals and leaders better understand how emotional intelligence shows up in their work. Each assessment bundle includes a 1:1 coaching session with a certified EQ-i coach to help interpret results and create a development plan.
Available options include:
EQ-i 2.0 Workplace Assessment – Understand your emotional intelligence and how it affects everyday work interactions.
EQ-i 2.0 Leadership Report – Explore how emotional intelligence impacts leadership effectiveness.
EQ 360 Assessment – Gain insight from colleagues, direct reports, and supervisors to see how others experience your leadership.
📩 Interested in learning more or scheduling an assessment? Contact us at mti@missouri.edu.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What signals tell you that your emotions are starting to take over in a stressful situation?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.

Episode #154: Leadership Behaviors That Steady Teams During Change

About This Episode
During times of change, leadership behaviors send powerful signals. This episode explores how consistent, steady actions help teams feel supported and confident—even when uncertainty is part of the workplace.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What behaviors do people count on me for?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.

Episode #153 - Sensemaking: How Leaders Create Meaning During Change

About This Episode
Change often brings more questions than answers. In this episode, we explore how leaders make sense of change themselves—and how that internal process shapes communication that builds confidence rather than angst.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What are you still trying to make sense of at work right now?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Covey, Stephen M.R. (2008). The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything. Free Press.

Episode #152 - Leading Well When the Path Isn't Clear

About This Episode
Leadership today often means moving forward without a clear roadmap. In this episode, we explore what leading well looks like when certainty is unavailable—and how presence, consistency, and honesty help leaders create stability even in unclear times.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ When things feel uncertain at work, what do you find hardest about leading? 
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.

Episode #151 - Do Leaders Keep Learning?

About This Episode
Leadership isn’t about knowing it all—it’s about staying curious. Yet only 30% of employees strongly agree they have opportunities to learn and grow at work, according to Gallup. In this kickoff episode, we explore why leaders can’t afford to stop learning, how modeling curiosity boosts engagement, and what it takes to make growth a visible, daily habit. From the 70-20-10 model of development to real-world stories of learning in progress, this episode is a call to lead by example—because when leaders learn, everyone rises.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What’s the last thing you learned that made you a better leader? 
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025 January 13). U.S. Employee Engagement Sinks to 10-Year Low. Gallup Workplace.
LinkedIn. (2024). Workplace Learning Report 2024. LinkedIn Learning.