There’s a Bob at every party. Someone convinced he’s a master of emotional intelligence, but blind to his own blind spots. The real irony? The more certain we are of our emotional savvy, the more likely we’re missing the mark. After years as a psychologist, I’ve learned that true emotional wisdom is quiet, humble, and always curious. The moment we start explaining our EQ to others is the moment we’ve become Bob ourselves.

In my area of expertise - leadership - AI can support decision-making, but it can’t replicate trust. It can streamline workflows, but it can’t build a healthy, high-performing culture.

And yet, these relational and emotional skills are still treated as secondary - or worse, assumed to be innate.
In reality, they’re anything but.

We talk a lot about AI.
We talk far less about what it’s doing to the humans still in the room.