5 Big Breaks Since 2020, and Why They Reinforce the Value of Emotional Intelligence More Than Ever
- Maxime Gaudreau
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 7
This morning, I received an email from a former client. A seemingly innocuous exchange, until I realized our last collaboration was in February 2020. Just before the world turned upside down.
This simple realization triggered an avalanche of memories and reflections.
Five years. Five years that changed everything, in the world, in my work, in my relationships, and in myself.
But as I took a step back, a common thread emerged: through all these transformations, emotional intelligence has been my compass. And it is this that I now see as THE key skill for leaders, teams, and humans.
5 BIG BREAKUPS (AND WHAT THEY REVEAL)
1. Global isolation has revealed our need for authenticity
Covid, lockdown, social distancing... these are the words that defined 2020. But behind the fear and uncertainty, one truth emerged: we need connection, vulnerability, and listening.
What I remember:
Leaders who have been able to create human spaces have gained the trust of their teams.
Authenticity has become a sought-after value, even in business.
Key skill : Empathy, active listening, presence.
2. The rise of AI has revalued humans
ChatGPT, automation, robotization... all symbols of speed and efficiency. But the more technology advances, the more valuable our deep human abilities become: judgment, intuition, compassion.
What I remember:
We won't compete with AI on speed.
But we can always offer meaning , awareness , connection .
Key skill : Self-awareness, emotion management, critical thinking.
3. Unstable geopolitics requires courageous and aligned leaders
Conflicts, crises, polarization: we live in an era of great uncertainty. This requires emotional courage from those who make decisions, regardless of their hierarchical level .
What I remember:
Tell the truth even when it is difficult.
Navigating tensions with clarity and compassion.
Maintaining a human course in a chaotic world.
Key skill : Managerial courage, emotional regulation, inner stability.
4. Remote work has redefined collaboration
Teleworking is no longer a fad; it's the norm. But it has revealed a major challenge: how can we collaborate without seeing each other?
What I remember:
This requires increased quality of communication.
More clarity, intention, and regulation in exchanges.
And most importantly, trust built on alignment, not control.
Key skill : Conscious communication, emotional clarity, relational intelligence.
5. Personal transformations have redefined our priorities
We've lost connections, and forged new ones. We've changed our trajectory, sometimes even our professional identity. In my case, my role has evolved: more coaching, more strategic consulting, hundreds of training workshops facilitated, more meaning... more human impact. And in these moments of change, it's the ability to listen, understand, and align with each other that makes the difference.
Key skill : Self-oriented emotional intelligence (self-awareness + self-regulation)
CONCLUSION
If I had to sum up these 5 years in a single word: transformation.
And if I had to name what for me made all the difference in these transformations: the development of emotional intelligence and the set of skills it encompasses.
This is what allows to:
Weather storms,
Connect with others,
Stay aligned with ourselves.
This is what I now place at the heart of my coaching practice, my trainings, my conferences... at the heart of my life.
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