Every now and then I have what one might call a “mad day”. Today I am experiencing the knock-on effect of one such day, for yesterday I rose at 5.30am and today I am feeling gently tired.

I started the day by listening to Guy Claxton as he addressed the Talent Foundation to talk about matters of education following the publication of his most recent book, What’s the Point of School? Rediscovering The Heart of Education. From there I went on to join Gina Lawrie and her colleagues from Helix Consulting at a workshop in which we explored practical ways to help workplace groups to develop as dynamic, functional emotionally intelligent teams. And then on to hear Lone Franks speak at the RSA following the publication of her book, Mindfield: How Brain Science is Changing Our World, about recent discoveries about the brain and its functioning and the about implications of this growing body of knowledge.

What did I take from my day? Listening to Guy Claxton speak and to our post-talk discussions I was struck, once again, by the disparities between what we measure in our students and what we know to be important. In the workplace, we have come to accept the central role that an individual’s emotional intelligence plays in his or her success at work. In schools we have come to recognise a body of personal characteristics, beginning with the natural curiosity children bring, and their impact on learning and learning outcomes. How is it that, with such knowledge, we do so little to assess and encourage these characteristics and may even seem intent on discouraging them in our school-age children? I confess, I am curious about the role our government plays in this and how our ministers can ignore so much of what research tells us and still wonder why we are not more entrepreneurial as a nation.

With so much to say in her talk, Lone Franks’ evening presentation leaves me to ponder further. For doesn’t the work of our neuroscientists reinforce what we already know by observation about what it takes for people to be happy, successful, and… and… and… And doesn’t this in turn reinforce the gaps between what we know and apply in practice?

In my own work, I continue to enjoy assessing candidates for senior leadership roles, not least because the candidates for such roles are often able and inspiring. These competency-based assessments are focussed on the emotional intelligence of those I assess. My work as a coach is also focused on supporting senior leaders as they develop their leadership and emotional intelligence. You could say, as they explore how to be both authentic and effective in the workplace. And yet, somehow, whilst we understand the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, it seems that we still do our best to contain the implications of our understanding.

Working with Gina and her colleagues during the day serves to remind me just how much we can do to develop our emotional intelligence as individuals and teams and yet it’s rare to have the opportunity to work with teams in the depth I am able to work with individual clients. I wonder, are we ready to grapple with the full implications of what we know?

And I notice how much I relish this prospect. I am open for business. And delighted to be open for the business of emotional intelligence.