riders&elephants

"Emotional Culture Fits All Sizes I had the distinct pleasure this week of working with Emmanuel Cornejo's small, yet powerful team of experts from the EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority). In a workshop labelled 'A Step to Discovering You' we explored, with the help of new DiSC profiles and a emotional culture mapping session, how the team could work more effectively together, to really achieve the sum of the parts, represented in their individual talent profiles. For such a small team they were fortunate in being blessed with a broad diversity of backgrounds, experience and thoughts. But galvanised by a common purpose, they started to really develop their team culture in the room, with some good plans to carry the results forward, to build on their foundation product. As always I came away from the session richer than when I entered from the experience of spending time with a group of really interesting and motivated people. So thanks to Emmanuel Cornejo and the team for a day well spent. I remain curious but resolutely optimistic about where you will take the foundation. Good Luck!" This weeks #ECDinthewild is from Jim Dryburgh, ECD Certified Consultant in Wellington. ⁠ Tag #emotionalculturedeck to be featured!

You’re human. You’re going to feel stress, frustration, and disappointment at times. You’ll face moments where emotions feel overwhelming, and that’s okay. These feelings aren’t a sign of weakness - they’re an invitation to learn. It is about recognizing and labbeling that each emotion, even the undesired ones, are here to teach you something. Instead of trying to suppress them, allow yourself to fully experience what they have to offer. Take a moment to reflect: - What difficult emotions have I been trying to avoid, and what might they be trying to teach me? - How can I approach my emotions with curiosity rather than judgment? - In moments of stress or frustration, how can I pause and reflect on what I’m learning from the experience? #emotionalculturedeck #emotionalchange #emotionalchangestrategy

A huge congratulations to Cathy Sheppard on achieving Specialist Elephant Rider status! Reaching this milestone speaks volumes about your dedication and impact on our community. You’re taking The ECD to new heights, showing others what’s possible when you combine your skills with a deep commitment to real, human, emotion-led conversations. Looking back, Cathy shared some of the most powerful moments along her journey with us: 1. Gaining Confidence Through Experience. “Using the ECD in so many different ways with different groups has increased my confidence hugely. I’m so much more familiar with the cards and the canvas questions.” Your experience has helped you navigate diverse settings, adapting the tools to make an impact every time. 2. Keeping It Simple and Clear. “People want to write so much detail that the canvases can become overwhelming.” By keeping things simple, you’ve kept the Deck focused and accessible, making it easier for teams to take the insights forward. 3. Reflecting and Passing It On. “Writing reflections after each workshop has enabled me to reflect on the journey.” Taking the time to reflect and share these learnings has been invaluable—not only for you but for your team members, who are now better equipped to use the Deck meaningfully. Along the way, Cathy discovered a few guiding principles: “Keep it simple! Less is more.” In your hands, meaningful conversations stay clear and impactful. “Trust the process.” You’ve seen firsthand the power of the tools, letting people open up about emotions in a way that strengthens teams. “No surprises!” By setting expectations up front, you’ve created safe spaces for honest engagement. It’s been very inspiring to see how you’ve woven ECD seamlessly into your leadership coaching, bringing fresh perspectives to leaders on how emotions affect stakeholders. “It’s so easy now to get business owners reflecting on how emotions might affect their stakeholders,”— which is a testament to how central The ECD has become in your approach. It’s a privilege to have you as a Specialist Elephant Rider in our community Cathy! Thank you for the work you’re doing to bring real, human conversations into workplaces everywhere. Here’s to more milestones ahead!

Looking to flip the way you or your leaders lead? Don’t miss this incredible opportunity with Lotty Roberts to dive into emotional leadership and challenge the status quo of leadership practices in your workplace or for your clients. There are still spaces left for this full-day course, but enrolments close soon. This course will equip you with the tools to build and establish the emotions that you, your people, and your teams need to thrive. As Sigal Barsade, Professor at Wharton Business School, said: “It’s up to senior leaders to establish the emotions your people and teams need to thrive.” Yet many leaders struggle with making these intangible emotional conversations tangible. Join this course to explore our emotional culture framework and walk away with practical strategies to lead your teams more effectively. Giveaway Alert! 🎉 Tag someone below who would love to join this course, and you’ll be entered to win an ECD Duo Pack! Entries close Monday, 4th November at 5 pm. Don’t wait—secure your spot today and get ready to lead with emotions at the centre!

"Getting ready to level up emotional intelligence and self-awareness with another group of leaders using this fantastic tool. Excited for the conversations, insight and action this ignites. If you are interested in learning more about how we can work together in your organisation find a time that works for you..." This weeks #ECDinthewild is from Gillian Smith, ECD Culture Practitioner in Brisbane. ⁠ Tag #emotionalculturedeck to be featured!

Are you Melbourne based, an ECD Practitioner and completed one of our ECD Online Courses? This invitation is for you. Join Lorissa Garcia for this end of year gathering where she’s take you through another sanely simple ECD Reflect & Review tool and activity, that you can either just college for yourself to end the year, or take away and immediately apply to your team and connect them to close out the year. You won’t want to miss this one! If you’re not em Elephant Rider, reach out to Lorissa to learn more about this and all our other Emotional Leadership tools in this framework.

We often talk about strategy, goals, and performance metrics, but what truly drives engagement and success is the emotional landscape beneath it all. When leaders acknowledge and manage the emotional culture of their teams, they foster environments where people feel connected, understood, and motivated. It’s easy to overlook emotions in the rush of day-to-day work. But emotional culture isn’t a “soft” factor - it’s foundational. When people feel safe to express their emotions and bring their full selves to work, it leads to deeper connections, resilience, and ultimately, better performance. The real challenge for leaders? Shifting the focus from only what people do to how they feel. Because emotions shape behaviour, influence engagement, and drive change. So, the next time you’re thinking about your team’s performance, ask yourself: What’s the emotional climate here? How are people feeling? When we lead with emotions, we create the conditions for real, sustainable success. #emotionalculturedeck #emotionalchange #emotionalchangestrategy

Feeling #curious #delighted #grateful about the Global Elephant Rider Summit with Jenn Quinn in Queenstown hosted by and Jeremy Dean... it's just under a month to go! I can't wait! ✨ 🐘 I'd love to hear from folks in my network who are going to be there and hopefully we can chat/meet up!! This weeks #ECDinthewild is from Lucy Ratcliffe, an ECD Culture Practitioner, in Auckland. ⁠ Tag #emotionalculturedeck to be featured!

What if leading change started with emotions, not processes? Most change models focus on processes, but real, lasting change happens through emotions. It’s the heart, not just the mind, that embraces, resists, or drives change. That’s why we’ve created the Emotional Change Strategy Cohort Course—to flip traditional change leadership on its head. In this 6-week course, starting October 28th, we’ll explore the emotions shaping change—for individuals, leaders, and teams. Here are some of the beautiful questions we’ll dive into: - How do you want your people to feel and not feel during change? - What emotions are making it hard to navigate change right now? - How did you feel in the best (and worst) change process you’ve experienced? - When this period of change is over, how do you want to feel? - What emotions do we need as a team to successfully navigate this transition? This isn’t just about reflection—it’s about action. Using The Emotional Culture Deck (ECD) tools, we’ll help you turn insights into tangible strategies that you can apply right away. Course tools include: - ECD Personal Change Conversation Guide - ECD Know Yourself Through Change Handbook - ECD Change Leadership Canvas & Team Change Canvas - ECD Change Rituals Canvas The Emotional Change Strategy Cohort Course offers: - Self-paced online course - 6 weeks of interactive lessons + live coaching calls - Support from a like-minded peer group - Practical tools to lead emotionally through change - 90 Days all-access pass to our global Culture Community - ECD Change Practitioner Badge upon completion If you’re ready to flip the way you lead through change, join us for this special first-ever cohort. - Start Date: October 28th - End Date: December 9th. Learn More & Enrol in the comments below. Change isn’t just a decision of the mind—it’s a journey of the heart. Let's lead it that way. #leadership #changemanagement #emotionalintelligence #emotionalchange #culture #coaching #leaders

We're beyond thrilled and proud to celebrate Dr.Nada Al-Moosa's remarkable achievement—becoming the first-ever Specialist Elephant Rider in the Asia Pacific region! Nada’s journey with us has been such an inspiration. After achieving Pro Elephant Rider status on November 25, 2023, she’s moved swiftly through our ECD Certification Pathway, reaching Specialist status in what feels like the blink of an eye. Her progress is a testament to her passion and commitment to emotional culture. If you’ve been following Nada’s journey, you’ve seen the impact of her work with The ECD throughout the region. It’s been especially moving to see how she’s inspiring young people, proving that emotional culture conversations have no age limits and belong in every conversation—whether you’re young or …old young-at-heart. Nada, you embody everything that makes our community unique and special. Your generosity and contribution to advancing our collective work with The ECD and emotions at work are everything being an Elephant Rider represents. We're so grateful for the heart and dedication you pour into this journey. Your work is shaping the future of emotional culture in profound ways, and we can’t wait to see where this path takes you next—congratulations again Nada!