EQ Applied Certified Professional: Emotional Intelligence for Leaders and Teams
Become the emotional intelligence expert in the room.
A comprehensive course and verified certification that gives you the knowledge, tools, and credential to demonstrate real EQ—not just talk about it.
Includes:
4-session on-demand course
Knowledge assessment and certificate upon achieving a passing score
Verified LinkedIn credential
Most professionals know emotional intelligence matters. Few can actually demonstrate it.
You know what emotional intelligence is…kind of. You’ve probably nodded along when someone says it’s the difference between a good leader and a great one.
But when someone asks you to explain what EQ actually is—how it works, why it matters, how to build it—do you have the vocabulary? The frameworks? The confidence?
Not to mention that you or those on your team:
Say or do things under pressure you later regret
Struggle to “read the room” in high-stakes situations
Not understand how personality shapes what people say and do
Want to lead with more confidence, but aren’t sure how to get there
Imagine walking into any room—and being the one who has the advantage.
At work
You’re the natural candidate for promotion—not just because of your skills, but because of how you lead, communicate, and handle pressure.
In relationships
You understand why people react the way they do, including yourself. Conflict becomes conversation. Tension becomes trust.
On your CV
You have a verified, unique credential you can display on LinkedIn and your resume: one that actually had to be earned.
Introducing the EQ Applied Professional Certification
Emotional Intelligence for Leaders and Teams
A complete course and professional certification built around one goal: giving you a deep, practical, verifiable understanding of emotional intelligence: the what, the why, and most importantly, the how.
This isn’t a participation badge. To earn this certification, you’ll complete a rigorous course and pass a knowledge assessment.
The credential you receive is unique, verifiable, and built to stand out.
Everything you need to go from curious to certified
4-session on-demand course
Real-World EQ for Leaders and Teams: a comprehensive program covering the four abilities of EQ, the Big 5 personality model, emotional management tools, resilience, feedback, and more. Taught with real-world case studies, expert interviews, and practical frameworks.
Course snapshot
Knowledge assessment
A written assessment that tests your understanding and application of the material, not just recall. You can retake it as many times as you need.
Final Exam
Official certificate with unique ID
Pass the assessment and receive an official EQ Applied Certificate with a unique, independently verifiable certificate number. Display it on your LinkedIn profile, CV, or resume with confidence.
Verifiable certificate.
LinkedIn credential
Add your verified EQA Certification directly to your LinkedIn profile: the credential link points to a live page with full details, statistics, and endorsements.
Sample LinkedIn Certification Badge
Four sessions. One comprehensive foundation.
1: Introduction to emotional intelligence and the EQ toolbox
A practical definition of EQ you’ll never forget. The four abilities, how they connect, and why each matters. Your first introduction to the EQ for Leaders toolbox.
2: Self-awareness, self-management, decision-making, and motivation
The Big 5 personality model: a scientifically grounded framework for understanding yourself and others. How motivation actually works, and how to use that to lead yourself and your team.
3: Social awareness, relationship management, better meetings, and feedback
The three types of empathy, and how to develop the right kind. What the FBI’s top negotiator taught about getting people to open up. Along with an effective system for delivering constructive feedback.
4: Resilience, habits, and performing under pressure
Learn about the secret 5th element of emotional intelligence: Resilience. Not just what it is, but how to build yours. Along with how thoughts and habits shape your emotions…and why preparation—not talent—is the key to great performance under pressure.
Most courses teach the what and why. This one teaches the how — using real tools and frameworks you can apply immediately.
Real experts
Four guest interviews — a Big 5 coach, an organizational psychologist, a leadership columnist, and a practicing manager — add real-world perspective.
Earned, not given
You have to pass a real assessment to earn this. And the credential page puts you in limited company.
“Your interpretation…and extremely specific, super-helpful analogies, and recommendations are unique and priceless.”
—Virgie Bright Ellington, MD
Founder and Principal at Crush Medical Debt
There’s nothing quite like this out there.
Most Emotional Intelligence certifications are either a $50 Coursera course (completion badge, no real assessment) or a $2,000+ practitioner certification aimed at coaches and HR professionals. This is neither.
It’s a foundational course that focuses on giving you the foundation you need to excel at your current role, and to move up the ladder, too.
About me
Hi, I’m Justin. I’ve spent over a decade studying, writing about, and coaching others to develop emotional intelligence. I’m the author of EQ Applied and the forthcoming book, The Rules of Emotional Intelligence (Hachette). I also write the emotional intelligence column for Inc. Magazine and run the Lighthouse,a community for emotionally intelligent leaders.
My mission: to help people make emotions work for them, instead of against them…and to make organizations and teams better places to work.
Jeff was Inc.com’s most popular columnist when I met him online. He had hundreds of thousands of followers on LinkedIn. (Today, he has over a million.) He’s written and ghostwritten multiple bestsellers, including his latest book, The Motivation Myth…and today his column Owner’s Manual is read by over 24 million people a year.
He’s given an amazing TED talk (The Most Successful Person In the World), and he honed his leadership skills in manufacturing as he worked his way up from entry-level shop floor to running a 1,000 employee plant.
Jeff and I are going to talk about “the motivation myth,” and how debunking that myth can help you lead yourself and your teams more effectively.
Peter Gregson
Peter Gregson is the founder of coaching practice Optimizing Me,a Birkman Certified Coach, and an expert in the field of personality assessment and coaching. He’s coached founders and trained managers in Europe and Asia, and previously supervised over 100 flight attendants for United Airlines in Germany and Hong Kong.
Peter was my personal coach for about a year, where he helped me to understand my own personality. It was through Peter’s guidance that I discovered, after 40 years of life, that I’m not an extrovert—I’m an introvert. That discovery alone has been pivotal in managing my own actions, habits, and emotions…and that’s just scratching the surface.
Peter and I will talk about the 5 Factor Personality Model (The “Big 5”), the most scientifically rigorous and researched personality model in the world. We’ll break down each of the major personality traits, give you tools for better understanding yourself and others, and help you see how to translate this knowledge to better leadership in the workplace.
Gloria Meneghini
Gloria Meneghini is the Managing Director of EQ Applied Italy, an Organizational Consultant, and Lecturer at Rome Business School, where she teaches in the university’s MBA, Masters in Human Resources Management, and Masters in Marketing and Communication programs.She currently trains and coaches global leaders in various sectors and industries, both in Italy and internationally, and has worked with global leadership teams at Lego and Disney.
For two years, Gloria, myself, and a team of researchers worked to codify what makes truly great teams, “great”—and how to transform that knowledge into real-life tools that leaders can use to make their teams great, too. We’ll share some of the tools we’ve developed, specifically in helping you to better leverage your team’s potential, improve the way you give and receive feedback, and manage conflict effectively.
Paul Obada
Paul Obada has led various teams in his role as a Manufacturing Manager in the field of research, development, and manufacture of medical diagnostic devices that save lives. He is also a longtime student of emotional intelligence, and a founding member of The Lighthouse, our community for emotionally intelligent leaders and coaches. Over the course of years, Paul has honed his abilities to use these emotional intelligence tools and techniques in both his professional and personal life.
Paul and I will talk about how to develop emotionally intelligent habits, how to apply what we’ve learned to the workplace and the home (and how each benefits the other), how to navigate difficult challenges, and how to continue to grow emotional intelligence in ourselves and those we lead.
1 Introduction to Emotional Intelligence and the EQ Toolbox: Learn a simple, practical, one sentence definition of emotional intelligence you’ll never forget. Discover the four abilities of emotional intelligence, how they relate to one another, and why each is important. Get introduced to the EQ for Leaders emotional intelligence toolbox and begin learning how to use it.
2 Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Decision Making, and Motivation: A thorough analysis of the two foundational abilities of emotional intelligence. Learn more about the scientifically grounded “Big Five” personality model, and how this can help you get to know yourself. Learn why much of what you’ve learned about motivation is a myth, and how you can effectively motivate yourself and others.
3 Social Awareness, Relationship Management, Better Meetings, and Feedback: A deep dive into the three different types of empathy. Learn how empathy can help but also harm you, and how you can develop “emotionally intelligent empathy.” Discover what the FBI’s top negotiator taught me about emotional intelligence, including the secret to getting people to share more about their thoughts and feelings. Learn the simple but rarely used keys to more effective meetings, and a new system for delivering constructive feedback.
4 Building Resilience, Cultivating Useful Habits, and Performing Under Pressure: Learn how to build resilience, the secret 5th element of emotional intelligence. Understand how thoughts and habits affect your emotions, why preparation is the key to great performance, and how to prepare the right way. Discover new techniques for training and honing your emotional abilities. Learn the difference between pressure and stress, along with practical ways for dealing with both.
Finally, participate in a summary and review of the core teachings of the course, learn why you want to be a student and not an expert, and discuss strategies for applying what you’ve learned and continuing your journey of building emotional intelligence.
Plans and Pricing
STANDARD
4-session on-demand course: Real-World EQ for Leaders and Teams
Knowledge assessment (unlimited retakes)
Official EQA Certificate with unique, verifiable ID
(Same link, just look for the option to book the extra session)
FAQ
How long does the course take?
The course consists of four one-hour sessions, all on-demand. You can complete it at your own pace; there are no deadlines. Most people complete it over one to two weeks, but with concentration and effort it’s possible to finish in one day.
What if I don’t pass the assessment?
No problem: You can retake the assessment as many times as you need. There’s no penalty for retakes; the goal is to ensure you genuinely understand the material.
How is this different from a simple course completion certificate?
Most course certificates are participation badges: You show up, you get the certificate. This one requires passing a real assessment. The credential is also independently verifiable via a unique certificate number, which means it carries weight when displayed on LinkedIn or a CV.
Is this course available anywhere else?
No. This course has only ever been taught live, in small cohorts, and is now available for the first time as an on-demand certification. You won’t find it through my other materials or at a lower price elsewhere.
Does the certification expire?
No. Once earned, your EQA Certification does not expire; it’s yours permanently. You’ll also retain access to the recordings and course materials, so you can review them whenever you like.
Is there a payment plan?
Yes. A 3-installment payment plan is available at checkout if you prefer to spread the cost.
What’s else is included?
You’ll also get access to the EQ for Leaders Toolbox, which includes:
The Rules of Emotional Intelligence:An on-demand course that teaches you how to use 24 “Rules,” or frameworks, designed to help you and your teams put emotional intelligence into practice. (The Rules of Emotional Intelligence is normally $199 but is included with this course for no extra cost.)
Working Together: The Complete Guide to Working With Introverts and Extroverts: A practical guide to working more effectively with both introverts and extroverts, no matter which end of the spectrum you lean towards.
The Big 5 Personality Test: A personality assessment based on the psychologically validated “Big 5” Model of personality traits. The results will help you better understand yourself and others, along with the reasons behind your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
This toolbox and training will help you build and use your emotional intelligence to make you a better manager or team lead—and even a better spouse and parent.
Here's an honest question worth sitting with.
Six months from now, you and a colleague are both being considered for the same opportunity. All else being equal—similar education, qualifications, and experience—what sets you apart?
Emotional intelligence is increasingly recognized as the differentiator in leadership, hiring, and advancement. The question isn’t whether it matters. The question is whether you can demonstrate it.
This certification gives you the knowledge, the tools, and the credential to do exactly that.
