Emotional Intelligence:
Navigating Family Dynamics During the Holidays
The holiday season brings with it a unique blend of joy, nostalgia, and—for many of us—stress. While gatherings with family can be heartwarming, they can also stir up old triggers and emotions we thought we had outgrown.
If you’ve ever found yourself bracing for a heated discussion at the dinner table or feeling overwhelmed by a seemingly innocuous comment, you’re not alone. Family dynamics have a way of touching deep, sensitive parts of us. That’s why practicing emotional intelligence (EI) during the holidays is not just helpful—it’s essential.
Emotional Intelligence Is a Gift
As a leader, I’ve learned that emotional intelligence isn’t just a workplace skill—it’s a life skill. When we practice EI with family, we show up as the best version of ourselves. We become the calm in the storm, the person who can defuse tension and create meaningful connections.
This holiday season, I challenge you to approach your family gatherings with heightened self-awareness and compassion. Let go of the need to win arguments or prove points. Instead, focus on what truly matters: love, connection, and gratitude.
Because in the end, the greatest gift we can give to others—and ourselves—is emotional intelligence.
Wishing you a season filled with peace and meaningful moments,
— Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
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“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
