Communication training and coaching has always been at the heart of Chasing Albert. Here's why Genos Emotional Intelligence became the next layer.

By Marie El Daghl, Communication Coach and Trainer, Chasing Albert

Great communication is about what's heard and felt.

After more than 25 years working in communication, I've seen brilliant presentations fall flat, difficult conversations go sideways and feedback miss the mark. Not because people didn't know what to say, but because emotions got in the way. Of course, some of those experiences were my own.

Stress changes how we listen. Frustration changes how we give feedback. Confidence changes how we show up. It’s undeniable - communication and emotional intelligence are inseparable – and more important than ever.

According to LinkedIn's analysis of data from more than one billion members globally, communication was the most in-demand skill in 2024 for the second consecutive year.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 also identified leadership and social influence, empathy and active listening, resilience and self-awareness among the core skills employers believe will grow in importance over the coming years.

In other words, the future of work demands that we get better at emotional intelligence and communication.

What Experience Taught Me About Communication

Early in my career, I focused heavily on messages, structure, delivery and strategy. Those things still matter a lot. The ability to think clearly, tailor a message to an audience, structure an argument and deliver it with confidence remains at the centre of effective communication.

But if you’ve worked with as many leaders as I have over a long period of time (and as I self reflect if I’m honest), you’ll notice that the ones who communicate well under pressure weren't necessarily the smartest people in the room. But they were often the most self-aware and exceptional at reading others.

The teams that navigated conflict effectively weren't the ones avoiding difficult conversations. They were the ones able to regulate emotions, show empathy and remain calm and clear when tensions rose.

The spokespeople who handled tough media interviews best weren't simply well prepared. They understood how to manage their own reactions while staying attuned to the person sitting opposite them.

The strongest communicators weren't just technically skilled. They understood, consciously or not, people. Just like communication, emotional intelligence is something everyone can and absolutely should learn.

Why Genos Emotional Intelligence

Genos Emotional Intelligence is one of the world's leading emotional intelligence assessment and development tools, used by organisations across the globe to build leadership capability, strengthen teams and improve workplace performance. From the sports leadership team at NBA team Phoenix Suns to new managers at the Bank of Kenya and even the nurses and staff at Australian Aged Care company IRT, Genos has been successfully building EI skills around the world in a way that is game changing for businesses and life changing for people for over 20 years.

I've had the opportunity to work alongside Genos International through various stages of my career and deepen my understanding of how emotional intelligence shows up in everyday workplace interactions.

I also had the privilege of co-hosting the EI at Work podcast alongside Dr Ben Palmer, one of the world’s leading authorities on emotional intelligence, exploring topics ranging from leadership and culture to wellbeing and team effectiveness with other experts in the field.

Each experience reinforced the same belief. Communication and Emotional Intelligence aren't separate disciplines, they're intertwined.

That's why I've recently completed the Genos International certification, enabling me to assess and develop emotional intelligence using the Genos model.

The Genos Emotional Intelligence Leadership Model

Emotional intelligence insights and communication action

For Chasing Albert, this isn't a pivot. Communication training remains at the heart of what we do. What has changed is the depth of the work.

What this certification has enabled me to do is develop two new standalone programs grounded in the Genos Emotional Intelligence methodology: the Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Communication program and the Emotionally Intelligent Team Communication program.

At their core, these programs use evidence-based Emotional Intelligence assessment and development to build awareness, identify strengths and uncover opportunities for growth.

But then we turn insight into action. Knowing that empathy matters is one thing. Knowing how to demonstrate it in a difficult conversation is another. Recognising that trust matters doesn't teach us how to frame feedback, ask better questions or choose words that bring people with us rather than push them away.

That's where Chasing Albert's communication expertise comes in. These programs combine Genos Emotional Intelligence assessment and development with practical communication training and coaching to turn insight into action.

Emotional Intelligence isn't just something people understand. It's something they demonstrate through their words, tone, behaviours and actions every single day.

What This Means for Leaders, Teams and HR

Through the Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Communication program, leaders learn how to communicate in ways that build trust, influence effectively and lead with greater intention under pressure.

The Emotionally Intelligent Teams program helps teams develop the awareness and communication habits that strengthen collaboration, improve feedback and make difficult conversations more productive.

For HR and People & Culture professionals, it means offering evidence-based programs that move beyond assessment and action plans to help people embed emotionally intelligent behaviours in the moments that matter most.

Emotional Intelligence isn't just something people understand. It's something they demonstrate through their words, tone, behaviours and actions every single day. And if we can help people communicate in ways that bring more understanding, stronger connections and better outcomes for everyone involved, that's work worth doing.

If you'd like to learn more about our Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Communication program or our Emotionally Intelligent Teams program, we'd love to chat.