Emotionally Charged

Emotionally Charged

How to LEAD in the New World of Work

Achieving high performance and fulfillment without compromising your well-being is possible. This book shows you how.

In Emotionally Charged, executive coach Dina Denham Smith and Penn State Professor of Psychology Alicia A. Grandey blend real-world cases with evidence-based insights to equip leaders to navigate today’s emotionally taxing world of work—without burning out.

Anchored in the science of emotions, this book will equip you with proven strategies and practical tools to lead successfully and thrive under pressure.

Dina Denham Smith

What You’ll Take Away from Emotionally Charged:

  • Emotion skills are leadership skills. Learn how to recognize, regulate, and channel your emotions to lead with clarity, confidence, and strength.
  • Surface acting comes at a cost. Discover why “faking it” wears you down—and what to do instead.
  • Burnout isn’t a failure of resilience. Get practical tools for recovery, renewal, and sustainable high performance.
  • Your emotions shape the climate around you. Understand how to inspire and motivate others—while avoiding toxic positivity.
  • Difficult conversations don’t have to derail you. Master quick, science-backed frameworks to manage triggers and stay grounded in the moment.
  • Compassion is a leadership advantage. Learn how to support your team and care for others—without burning yourself out.

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Praise for the Book

Adam g

Ignoring emotions at work is no longer an option.

Grounded in the latest evidence and informed by extensive practical experience, Emotionally Charged is an immediately actionable resource for leaders to level up their emotional skills.

Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

Sarah Friar

An essential read for leaders who want to enhance organizational performance.

It offers powerful insights and practical tools that resonate deeply, especially for those of us who have experienced the challenges of hybrid teams and are striving to lead effectively in a new business paradigm.

Sarah Friar, CFO - OpenAI, and Former CEO - Nextdoor

Chip Conley

Think emotions should be left at the office door? This book will change your mind.

Emotionally Charged offers practical guidance for managing the complex emotional demands of leadership today, ensuring success and well-being go hand-in-hand.

Chip Conley, Founder - Joie de Vivre Hotels, and New York Times Bestselling Author of Peak and Emotional Equations

BJ Jenkins

Wherever you are in your career journey, Emotionally Charged will inspire you to think differently about how you lead.

The perfect blend of hands-on coaching advice and scientific insights, it’s a powerful guide to managing interpersonal complexities and steering your team (and yourself!) to greater heights. If you read just one book this year, make it this one!

BJ Jenkins, President - Palo Alto Networks

Amy C. Edmondson

Emotionally Charged is an invaluable resource for today’s leaders.

Few leadership competencies are as important in today’s volatile world as emotional self-regulation, and the ability to help others navigate the emotional dimensions of complex, uncertain work is not far behind.

Grounded in research and deeply practical, this book can help anyone be more effective and more fulfilled at work.

Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership - Harvard Business School; Bestselling author of Right Kind of Wrong and The Fearless Organization

Kofi Bruce

In today’s complicated landscape, leaders are finding that, in addition to technical expertise, they need a stronger set of emotional tools to best support their teams.

In a world where the personal and professional blend together like never before, it is a business imperative to know how to help employees address external challenges like family issues and social strife.

Emotionally Charged offers unflinching insight into the toll this can take on leaders and provides practical tools to help them succeed in this complex landscape.

Kofi Bruce, CFO - General Mills

Jennifer Kurkoski

No one trying to lead today believes that work is just business as usual.

Emotionally Charged helped me identify the new challenges leaders face, build value for my team, and reinvest in myself. It offers an invaluable map to navigating today’s transformed work landscape.

Jennifer Kurkoski, People Analytics Director - Google