Leaders Building Emotional Intelligence to drive innovation in Telecommunications

Industry: Canadian Technology Services Company

Project: To equip leaders with emotional intelligence and innovative thinking

The Challenge

The technology services industry in North America was facing significant challenges driven by rapid technological advancements, an increasingly competitive market, and evolving workforce expectations. The Company recognized the need to continuously innovate to stay ahead, requiring leaders who can effectively navigate change, foster creativity, and maintain high levels of emotional intelligence. Additionally, the hybrid work environment, which blends remote and in-office work, necessitates leaders who can build strong, cohesive teams despite physical distances. This new landscape created a pressing need for leadership development programs that equip leaders with the emotional intelligence and innovative thinking required to thrive in this dynamic industry.

The Partnership Approach

We partnered with the Learning and Development team and several key Executives across the organization who are involved with leading innovation to understand the importance for driving innovation across the organization as well as their strategic objectives.

KLI’s Competitive Advantage

Kirke Leadership (KLI) stands out in the crowded field of leadership training due to our unique focus on emotional intelligence and innovation. Our competitive advantage lies in our ability to combine cutting-edge research with practical applications, delivering programs that are both scientifically grounded and immediately applicable. Our trainers are experienced professionals who bring real-world insights and a deep understanding of the tech industry. Additionally, our commitment to continuous improvement ensures that our programs evolve in response to emerging trends and client feedback. This adaptability, combined with our personalized approach, positions KLI as the go-to partner for organizations seeking to develop leaders capable of driving innovation and navigating complex emotional landscapes.

Our Emotional Intelligence Programming

To address the needs of the leaders in this company, Kirke Leadership delivered a series of workshops in English and in French using our cutting-edge simulation called “Emotional Intelligence Skills That Drive Innovation”. We use an online collaboration tool featuring a mix of theory and practical design sprints. The simulation is fun and interactive, encouraging teams to actively participate and apply critical emotional intelligence (EQ) skills to drive innovation.

The simulation is divided into four key sprints, each focusing on essential EQ skills:

• Sprint 1 - Empathizing with End Users: Participants start by understanding the needs of end users and customers, fostering empathy.
• Sprint 2 - Creative Problem Solving: Teams collaborate to solve problems creatively, applying their newfound empathy.
• Sprint 3 - Interpersonal Relationships: Emphasizing the importance of collaboration, participants work cross-functionally to brainstorm and enhance creativity.
• Sprint 4 - Flexibility and Adaptive Capability: Teams receive and integrate feedback, demonstrating flexibility and improving their designs to better serve end users. After each sprint, participants reflect on their experiences and relate them to their specific contexts at work. They connect with learning partners and engage in robust debrief sessions to solidify their understanding. Additionally, the simulation includes strategies for emotional intelligence and action plans to ensure participants can apply these skills in their real-world scenarios.