Dr. David exposes how our emotions hold us back or carry us forward in our goals depending on how well we confront—not control—them. Science shows us that it’s not possible to smother your emotions with affirmations espoused by the latest positivity movement.  It’s equally unrealistic to set your mind to a rigid “grit” goal that might not be working for you. Like it or not, your emotions are there, and the more honest and agile you are with them, the more you can overcome the demands of work and life to thrive. The antidote to emotional rigidity is emotional agility—being flexible with your thoughts and feelings so that you can respond optimally to the increasingly unpredictable challenges of business.

Dr. Susan David is a Harvard Medical School scientist whose work revolves around the science of emotions. Hailed as a “Groundbreaking Idea of the Year”,  her brand new book is titled Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive In Work and Life. Susan David has a PhD in psychology (clinical) and a post-doctorate in emotions research from Yale. She is on faculty at Harvard Medical School and is co-founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.