Author page for Joshua Freedman

Josh's Profile:

I am the COO of Six Seconds and part of the founding team. Before Six Seconds I was a teacher, I've also been a manager and entrepreneur. I'm interested in EQ because I've found emotions to be challenging and scary, I'm scared of being overwhelmed and out of control, I'm challenged to do and say what I mean in my "heart of heart" rather than reacting with blame and anger. My latest book is At the Heart of Leadership

More about Josh:

http://6seconds.org/about/freedman.php

Posts by Josh:

Leadership Success and Emotional Intelligence in the Middle East, 07 Aug 2010

Abstract: The United Arab Emirates is emerging as the business capital of the Middle East. In this complex, demanding environment, to what extent do the “soft skills” of emotional intelligence matter? In a study of 418 leaders living in the region, there is a very strong relationship between emotional intelligence skills and performance outcomes. Scores [...]




Six Seconds Jordan – Emotional Intelligence in the Middle East, 27 Jul 2010

We are delighted to announce that Six Seconds has opened its seventh office in the world.  The new office is located in Amman, Jordan and will be managed by certified Six Seconds practitioners Mr. Nadeem Nahhas and Ms. Souhair Dahdaleh. Nadeem’s commitment to developing the people-side of performance began when he worked in Sales and [...]




Exercise or Die? Emotional Intelligence and Health, 19 Jul 2010

For the past 20 years, my most rigorous exercise has been carrying my laptop around the world. Still, when I went to the doctor for a checkup (finally), I was surprised and dismayed by my blood pressure.  [This article was first published 12/21/2005 -- the good news:  I've come to like exercise!] Over the years [...]




Spiky or Soft – Protection and Connection, 15 Jul 2010

Perhaps self evident:  When people are hurt or scared, we often protect ourselves by becoming spiky or hard – creating a shell or a wall.  As we shut down our feelings to prevent more distress, we shut down not just the painful feelings but all feelings.  As the spikes get sharper, the walls higher, we [...]




Proactive, Reactive, Inactive, 07 Jul 2010

One of the major issues that surfaced in the 2010 Workplace Issues Report (and the 2007 report for that matter) is being proactive. You know – that state when you put out the fire before it’s a raging inferno? Or maybe even take the matches and paper away from your colleague before he starts the [...]




What We Focus On: Abby Sunderland, 30 Jun 2010

Patty & I were talking about Abby Sunderland’s press conference and a comment she made.  Why is the “big story” the accident and rescue — instead of a 16 year old succeeding to sail 12,000 miles?  I don’t know about you, but I heard nothing about the first 11,999 miles… it wasn’t a “story” until [...]




Behind the Veil, 22 Jun 2010

In 2005 I was Chairman of the first Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence Conference in the Middle East, a three-day program in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. I wrote this article on the last day of the conference, May 30, 2005. We live in a time of turmoil and uncertainty and, if we accept the [...]




Electric Wind, 25 May 2010

I’ve walked in many places, and often found each evokes a unique feeling.  From the spiritual presence of the high Sierra, to the infinite possibility of Cape Point — so at some level I’ve know that our bodies and hearts are connected to the natural world (even when we’ve removed our heads to the curious [...]




Looking Thinner… Feeling Fatter, 20 Apr 2010

After years of “sort of trying,” I’m almost entirely thrilled to have lost 30 pounds (the “secret” is about love and joy, not suffering, but that’s another article), but there are three big downsides: 1. People don’t know what to say to me. “You look great!” is nice. “Oh, you’re finally losing weight,” not so [...]




Optimism, Resilience, and Empathy in Esperanza Rising, 19 Mar 2010

Max, Emma, Patty and I regularly listen to audiobooks in the car.  There are amazing EQ lessons in these stories, and I find that listening to them creates a strong emotional connection — plus it’s a great way to keep the peace on long drives! On the plane yesterday, listened to the end of Pam [...]




Why Find Compelling Purpose?, 15 Mar 2010

I’m distressed about purposelessness. The serious companies with whom we consult worldwide have all spent time, and usually a lot of money, crafting a “vision-mission-values” statement. There seems to be some confusion about why. Sometimes, it seems, they’ve made one because that’s what everyone else does.  Something’s just not “clicking” – or maybe I’m just [...]




Purpose and Motivation: Drive Video, 13 Mar 2010

In the Six Seconds Model, the “capstone” is a competency we call “Pursue Noble Goals,” which enables you to connect with purpose in your daily life — to put your purpose into action. Daniel Pink’s video about his new book, DRIVE, provides a fun and clear way of talking about this essential topic: Two questions [...]




Fight or Flow in Avatar, 11 Mar 2010

One of the fundamental choices we each make in each moment is to live in that state of fight or in the state of flow.  As I’ve written before (in this article and in At the Heart of Leadership): FIGHT is characterized by power where the goal is the be right OVER another; emotions such [...]




Does Mama Need Surgery Again?, 26 Feb 2010

A few months ago Patty had routine physical, and her doctor ordered some tests, which came back positive so she needed a biopsy. While statistically odds were strong that it would be a nonissue, we were both a bit anxious – especially because of her cancer scare a few years ago. We carefully didn’t say [...]




Performance, People, and Pressure: 2010 Workplace Issues, 23 Feb 2010

The 2010 Workplace Issues Report captures input from 279 leaders and employees from a variety of sectors around the globe.  They said… 65% of the pressing issues are on the people side, 35% on the financial/technical side (but in 2007 it was 76/24). Even in the current economy, the people issues were seen as 30% [...]