The Emotional Intelligence Gap: The Power of Emotional Literacy at Work w/ Lori Woodley-Langendorff
In this episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity & Company, host Scott Arrieta sits down with Lori Woodley Langendorff—thought leader, author, and co-founder of All It Takes—to explore how emotional literacy isn’t just for classrooms—it’s the missing ingredient in today’s workplaces.
Drawing from her book SEL Muscle Mastery, Lori shares a practical framework for developing six “emotional muscles” that strengthen collaboration, accountability, and resilience:
Quit Taking It Personally (Resilience)
Speak from “I” (Ownership)
Ask vs. Tell (Collaboration)
Authentic Connection
Curiosity over Judgment (Agility)
Walk the Talk (Integrity)
Together, Scott and Lori unpack why organizations continue to deprioritize emotional intelligence—even when the science proves its value—and how leaders can start integrating these skills to create cultures that heal, not harm.
From distinguishing between serving and saving to mastering the Notice–Choose–Act framework, this episode offers tangible ways to build stronger, more human workplaces. Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or educator, this conversation is a masterclass in leading with empathy, resilience, and integrity.
🎧 Listen now to learn how to flex your SEL muscles and create a workplace where people thrive—not just survive.
🧠 Key Takeaways
Emotional intelligence (EQ) and social-emotional learning (SEL) are not “soft skills” — they are critical leadership skills that drive engagement, retention, and innovation.
Building “SEL muscles” requires ongoing practice—like physical training—otherwise they atrophy over time.
The most effective leaders understand the difference between serving and saving their people.
Organizations that deprioritize emotional literacy during times of stress or urgency create vicious cycles of burnout, turnover, and underperformance.
The Notice–Choose–Act framework offers a practical method to help leaders turn awareness into intentional action.
Emotional literacy bridges the gap between individual well-being and organizational performance.
🧩 Featured Frameworks
The Six SEL Muscles: Resilience, Ownership, Collaboration, Authentic Connection, Agility, and Integrity
Notice – Choose – Act: Awareness → Intention → Action
Serve vs. Save: Empowering growth instead of rescuing or controlling others
💬 Memorable Quotes
“We can’t strong-arm humans into happiness.” — Lori Woodley Langendorff
“Leadership is about allowing your team to skin their knee—but not break their leg.” — Scott Arrieta
“If we don’t exercise our emotional muscles, they atrophy just like physical ones.” — Lori Woodley Langendorff
🔗 Resources Mentioned
Lori Woodley Langendorf’s organization: All It Takes
Workplace programs: allittakes.org/workplace
Lori’s book: SEL Muscle Mastery
👥 About the Guest
Lori Woodley Langendorff is the co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of All It Takes, a nonprofit she launched with her daughter, actress and producer Shailene Woodley. Her work centers on social-emotional literacy and building stronger human connections in schools, communities, and workplaces. She is also the author of SEL Muscle Mastery, a guide to developing the emotional skills that drive resilience, adaptability, and collaboration.
💡 About the Host
Scott Arrieta is the CEO of Unity & Company and host of The Workplace Therapy Podcast. Unity & Company partners with organizations to unlock performance through leadership development, team effectiveness, and culture transformation—helping leaders create environments where people and performance thrive together.