Emotional Intelligence: The Hidden Competency of Exceptional EMS Leaders

In the high-stakes, high-stress world of EMS management and leadership, logic alone won’t carry you through the toughest calls or the hardest conversations — emotion is always part of the equation. Whether you’re managing conflict, motivating a weary team, or making critical decisions under pressure, your ability to recognize and manage emotions — both yours and others’— can make the difference between success and burnout. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the often-overlooked leadership superpower. Research shows that up to 90% of leadership effectiveness is linked to EQ — not IQ. For EMS leaders, understanding how emotion drives communication, influences decisions, and shapes team dynamics isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Join Ray as he draws on more than 30 years of EMS experience —f rom the back of the ambulance to the upper levels of state government — to share practical tools, candid insights, and real-world scenarios that bring EQ to life. This session will challenge you to reflect, reset, and reframe how you lead through emotion — not around it.