Emotional Intelligence Is Changing the Way We Lead—Here’s How

We just wrapped up Cohorts 4 & 5 of our Cultivating Emotional Intelligence for Leaders course for the Ohio Statewide Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative—and the work just keeps getting deeper, bolder, and more meaningful.

That’s over 100 Ohio leaders trained so far, with 5 more cohorts launching before fall, bringing nearly 250 additional leaders into this important work.

The Shift We’re Seeing

What’s been most powerful isn’t just the skills learned—it’s the internal transformation happening for leaders across trauma-exposed systems:

💬“This is the first time I’ve really looked at how I show up emotionally.”

💬“I feel more connected with others again.”

💬“I finally have language for what I’m experiencing and what my staff needs.”

These aren’t typical leadership development sessions. They’re transformational spaces where leaders pause, reflect, and reimagine how they show up for themselves and for others. Judges, social workers, disability advocates, educators, and program directors are learning not just how to do leadership differently—but how to be different in leadership.

And the ripple effect is real:

• Teams are reporting increased trust and connection.

• Staff retention is improving because leaders are recognizing and responding to emotional needs.

• Burnout is decreasing as leaders learn practical recovery strategies for themselves and their teams.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters Now More Than Ever

Trauma-exposed systems—child welfare, education, behavioral health, juvenile justice—are at a breaking point. Staff turnover, burnout, and secondary trauma are at all-time highs. Emotional intelligence isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore; it’s a core leadership skill for sustainability and retention.

That’s why we designed Cultivating Emotional Intelligence for Leaders as part of Silver Linings International’s broader commitment to building trauma-informed, resilient leadership.

Drawing on neuroscience, trauma-informed care principles, and practical leadership strategies, this course helps leaders:

✅ Recognize and regulate their own emotional responses.

✅ Build psychological safety and trust within teams.

✅ Strengthen staff engagement and reduce turnover.

✅ Model the resilience they want to see in their workforce.

We’re just getting started. Five new cohorts are launching before fall—and spots are almost full, with a waitlist already forming. By the end of this year, nearly 350 Ohio leaders will have gone through this experience.

And the momentum isn’t stopping in Ohio. This work is scalable—and we’re already booking into 2026 with other states and systems eager to bring emotional intelligence training to their leaders.

Want to Be Part of the Change?

If you’re in Ohio, now’s the time to secure your spot before the waitlist grows.

📩 Not in Ohio? Let’s talk. Silver Linings International partners with states, counties, and agencies nationwide to build trauma-informed leadership capacity through emotional intelligence, trauma-informed supervision, and workforce resilience training.

Let’s build a future where emotional intelligence isn’t an add-on—it’s how we lead.

👉 Learn more about our leadership and workforce training at Silver Linings International.