logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
1h 7m

The Science of Optimal Performance—at Wo...

10% Happier
About this episode

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

How to boost productivity, empathy, and focus, while reducing burnout. From the godfather of Emotional Intelligence. 


If you have any degree of ambition, one of the things you probably think about is how to perform at your best, or somewhere close, every day. How to keep your energy up. How to get into flow. How to stay focused and productive. How to play well with others.


Daniel Goleman— his friends call him Danny—-has been thinking and writing about optimal performance for decades. He's perhaps best known for his book, Emotional Intelligence. He's a Harvard trained psychologist who also wrote in the New York Times for a while. And in his youth, he spent many years studying meditation in Asia, alongside many of today's most intellectual meditation teachers like Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg.


He's got a new book called Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day, co-written with Cary Cherniss.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to train your mind for optimal states
  • How to reduce burnout
  • How to develop and deploy empathy in a work setting
  • How to give feedback
  • A productivity hack that involves only doing the easy stuff
  • The 4 parts of emotional intelligence—and how to get better at each
  • And the future of EI in a world of AI


This episode kicks off the latest installment of our occasional series, Sanely Ambitious. Over the next two weeks, we will be posting episodes on: how to focus in the midst of a pandemic of distraction, how to fail well, and when to quit. It's a great lineup. 


Daniel Goleman's online Emotional Intelligence Program


Related Episodes:

A Radical Approach to Productivity, Self-Compassion Series | Jocelyn K. Glei

#494. How to Speak Clearly, Calmly, and Without Alienating People | Dan Clurman and Mudita Nisker

The Science of Emotional Intelligence | Daniel Goleman

#523. A Masterclass in Handling Yourself When Things Suck | Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Daniel Goleman

#436. Brené Brown Says You're Doing Feelings Wrong



Sign up for Dan's weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes


Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/daniel-goleman-716

Up next
Today
Why Work Feels So Hard — And What to Do About It
<p dir="ltr">We're bringing you an episode of one of our favorite podcasts, <a href= "https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos"> The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos</a>, on which Dan was a guest.<br /> <br /> We can spend a lot of time working ... Show More
1h 2m
Nov 21
The Dharma of Anxiety and Depression | Leslie Booker
<p dir="ltr">Anxiety. Depression. Perfectionism. Dan and meditation teacher Leslie Booker get real about how these challenges show up in their own lives — and how mindfulness, community, and sometimes medication can actually help. Recorded live at New York Insight, this conversat ... Show More
31m 12s
Nov 19
How To Get Out Of Your Head: Joseph Goldstein and Sam Harris on Nirvana, Non-Clinging, Non-Duality, and the Best Way to Meditate
<p dir="ltr">Which is the best path to freedom?</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.dharma.org/teacher/joseph-goldstein/">Joseph Goldstein</a> is a cofounder of the <a href= "https://www.dharma.org/">Insight Meditation Society</a> and the <a href="https://www.buddhistinquiry.o ... Show More
1h 31m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2019
Meditation, Kindness, and Compassion: The Secret To Your Life and Financial Abundance with Daniel Goleman
You may have heard about emotional intelligence, but have you really ever paused to think about where you fall on the spectrum, and how it’s influencing your relationships and place in the world? It actually impacts everything, from our family lives to our leadership abilities an ... Show More
54m 29s
Mar 2021
Daniel Goleman - Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness, and Learning to Pay Attention
In this episode, it's my great pleasure to speak with author and world renowned psychologist, Daniel Goleman. Dan is one of my heroes and just a spectacular mind.As a science journalist Daniel reported on the brain and behavioral sciences for The New York Times for many years. Hi ... Show More
50m 59s
Jan 2024
RWH039: Optimal Performance w/ Daniel Goleman
In this episode, William Green brings back Daniel Goleman, author of “Emotional Intelligence,” an iconic book that’s sold over 5 million copies. Here, Dan talks about his new book, “Optimal: How to Sustain Personal & Organizational Excellence Every Day.” He explains how to master ... Show More
1h 49m
Jun 2023
The Science of Success: Harnessing the Power of Positive Thinking, Dopamine, and Mindset EP 1447
<p>The Summit of Greatness is back! Buy your tickets today – <a href="https://www.summitofgreatness.com/">summitofgreatness.com</a></p><p>In this powerful Masterclass episode, four leading experts delve into the intricate workings of the brain and how to leverage its capabilities ... Show More
49m 40s
Jan 2024
How to Build Immense Inner Strength | David Goggins
In this episode, my guest is David Goggins, retired Navy SEAL, highly accomplished ultramarathoner, best-selling author, and influential public speaker. David explains how he mastered his inner dialogue to build extraordinary levels of discipline and mental and physical toughness ... Show More
2h 33m
Mar 2018
TMHS 276: Protect Your Mental Energy, Attention Residue, & Deep Work - With Cal Newport
Today, more than ever, we are mistaking being busy for being effective. Great work is more valuable than ever today. Whether it’s work related to health and fitness, real estate, tech, art, or any other field, the quantity today is massive. But quality is what we truly desire. F ... Show More
1h 5m
Jun 2021
Meditation | Science, Soul & Practice
<p>Today’s episode is special, it’s a unique meditation deep dive that brings together the deep, research-driven insights from Daniel Goleman, best known for his work on Emotional Intelligence, as well as his book, Altered Traits. Daniel takes us into the science behind meditatio ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2022
The Daily Habits To Prime Your Brain For Productivity, Happiness & Confidence EP 1263
<p>In a world filled with overwhelm and burnout, it’s crucial to set mental boundaries and create space for yourself so you can focus on reaching your full potential. One of the ways I do this is by priming my brain for productivity and happiness throughout the day. Believe me, i ... Show More
1h 16m
Sep 2021
Emotional Intelligence is a Trainable Superpower | Dr. Daniel Goleman
<p>This week’s conversation is with trailblazing psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Daniel Goleman.</p><p>Daniel has transformed the way the world educates children, relates to family and friends, and conducts business.</p><p>Well ... Show More
1h 7m