Emotions play a crucial but often overlooked role in the workplace, especially during times of change. When teams and stakeholders are emotionally aligned with a strategic vision, change programs can thrive. Yet, emotional culture is rarely discussed until emotions become a problem.

Today I have the privilege of speaking with Jeremy Dean, the founder and mastermind behind Riders and Elephants, a company that designs simple, human-focused games that reimagine the way people can connect and grow. Jeremy's mission is to rehumanise workplaces, and his games are used by some of the world's most prominent organisations, including IBM, Netflix, Airbnb, and the United Nations.

In this conversation, Jeremy and I delve deep into the concept of emotional culture, exploring its significance, how it differs from cognitive culture, some of the common challenges leaders face, and practical strategies for incorporating it into change management plans. Jeremy's insights and tips for leaders and people managers navigating the sometimes uncomfortable realm of emotional culture are absolutely invaluable.

We talk in particular about the Emotional Culture Deck, a powerful tool designed to help leaders and teams understand, express, and navigate their emotions during times of change. Jeremy emphasises the importance of articulating desired and undesired emotions, enabling leaders to create a roadmap for guiding their teams through emotional challenges during change.

Introducing emotional culture initiatives can be uncomfortable, especially for leaders. Jeremy shares his advice on starting small, experimenting with trusted individuals, and using the Emotional Culture Deck as a Trojan horse to initiate discussions about emotions without triggering resistance.

Jeremy also highlights the need for leaders to understand their own emotions and vulnerability, as this can pave the way for empathy and relatedness within teams. We discuss how it all starts with self-awareness and how leaders must first understand their own emotions in order to empathise with their team.


The conversation about emotional culture is so powerful and yet an often neglected aspect of the workplace. I hope you take so much away from Jeremy's insights and practical advice, highlighting the power of emotions in driving human behaviour and culture. It's clear that by embracing emotional culture, organisations can not only navigate change more effectively but also create a healthier and more empathetic work environment.

LINKS

Connect with Jeremy Dean:

The Emotional Culture Deck:https://www.ridersandelephants.com/the-emotional-culture-deck

Websites:https://www.ridersandelephants.com

LinkedIn:https://nz.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-dean-theemotionalculturedeck

Connect with me:

Download my Energy Management Toolkit here!

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatebyrne