Emotional Intelligence Keynote Speaker

Upgrade Your EQ:
The Science and Skill of Great Leadership

An interactive emotional intelligence keynote for leaders at every level

Being smart is great. Being emotionally smart is a game changer.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

A high IQ helps you solve equations; a high EQ helps you solve people.

In this interactive keynote, Jon Colby unpacks what really drives trust, influence, and good decisions at work: emotional intelligence. Participants learn the core components of EQ, see why it separates good managers from great leaders, and then practice it live through low-pressure improv exercises instead of just hearing about it.

This session focuses purely on emotional intelligence, so it works for any audience without an assessment. (Want individual reports on behavior, motivators, and EQ? See The Art & Science of Self-Improvement.)

Optional add-on: "Emotional Intelligence in Action" breakout, where participants apply EQ skills to real workplace scenarios through hands-on exercises.

Who It's For

Leadership teams, new and emerging managers, associations, and conferences with a leadership track.

What Your Team Walks Away With

TAKEAWAYS

Understand the core components of emotional intelligence and how each one shows up at work

01

Recognize your own emotional triggers and respond instead of react

02

Practice empathy and active listening in real time

03

Navigate difficult conversations with more confidence and less stress

04

Build a team culture where emotional intelligence is the norm, not the exception

05

Check Jon's Availability

Gretchen Schott

VP of Learning & Development, trueU

"Jon is a fantastic presenter and thoughtful business partner. We had him speak at our annual Learning Summit and he brought down the house! People are still talking about the lessons he shared about connecting, communication and improvising."

Questions About This Session

The most widely used model, from Daniel Goleman, has five: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. This keynote covers each one and how it shows up at work.
Yes. Unlike IQ, emotional intelligence can grow with awareness and practice. That's why this session focuses on doing, not just hearing about it.
Leaders with strong EQ handle pressure better, read their teams more accurately, and build the trust people need to speak up, take ownership, and stay.