Leading with Emotional Intelligence in Sports and Business

In this episode of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, host Sid Bensalah talks with Kirk McCarley, a leadership coach, and founder of The Seed Sower Coach with a fascinating background in corporate HR, executive coaching, and working as a statistician for ESPN. Kirk shares how emotional intelligence (EQ) is the key to effective leadership in sports and business.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Kirk’s journey shaped his approach to leadership and EQ.
• Why listening is a critical skill for leaders and how to improve it.
• Balancing accountability and empathy in high-performance environments.
• Lessons from sports that apply to business leadership.
• How cultural and generational factors influence communication styles.

Key Highlights:

• The Power of Listening: Practical ways to slow down and create meaningful connections.
• Leadership Styles: The differences between enthusiastic, vocal leaders and those who lead quietly by example.
• Pause and Reflect: Kirk explains how to manage high-energy conversations by practicing the art of pause.

Quote of the Episode: "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." – Pat Summitt 

Whether you’re a coach, executive, or team leader, this episode will inspire you to lead authentically and purposefully.

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