Emotional Agility In Action

Joanne Lockwood is joined by learning and development expert JD Walter to explore emotional agility at work, and why emotional intelligence and resilience are central to healthier, more effective workplace cultures.

JD shares how his early focus on organisational structure and process shifted after leading a high-conflict HR service centre, where fear, misaligned expectations, and poorly supported change created tension and breakdowns in teamwork. From that experience, he explains why “fixing the org chart” rarely addresses the root causes of conflict, and why leaders need to understand the human dynamics underneath performance problems.

Across the conversation, they unpack what authentic empathy looks like in practice (not performative caring), how vulnerability and trust enable productive conflict and collaboration, and why creating safer spaces for people to speak honestly depends on resilience in the face of stress and scrutiny. They also discuss modern communication challenges, belonging and polarisation, and JD’s approach to stepping back from surface-level disputes to uncover the underlying fears and needs driving behaviour.

Listeners will come away with a grounded perspective on emotional intelligence as actionable behaviour, and a clearer sense of how teams and leaders can build more resilient, connected environments where people can show up as humans—not just roles.