Research shows lawyers score below average in emotional intelligence compared to the general population. That gap is costing law firms talent, trust, and millions in preventable attrition.David Sarnoff is an ICF Certified Executive Coach, leadership trainer, and former attorney who founded Sarnoff Group LLC to do development work that actually sticks. He's also the co-author of Beyond the Courtroom: Proven Strategies from the Legal Field for Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and Well-Being in the Modern Workplace. In this episode, David joins Scott Love to break down why emotional intelligence is so hard for lawyers to develop — and exactly how to build it.This is a legal-specific episode from the Sometimes Tuesdays series, and it's one of the most practically useful conversations the show has had on leadership, retention, and what actually keeps great attorneys and staff from walking out the door.You'll learn: Why lawyers as a population score below average in EQ — and what Martin Seligman's research on pessimism reveals about why The connection between low EQ and the legal profession's alarming rates of depression, substance abuse, and burnout Why 70% of what you communicate is nonverbal — and what partners are accidentally telling their teams without knowing it The "three words exercise" that reveals the gap between how you see yourself and how your team actually experiences you What the amygdala hijack is and why it makes otherwise rational lawyers act irrationally under stress The box breathing technique Navy SEALs use to stay calm in chaos — and how one practice group leader used it to stop a blow-up in real time What KKR discovered when they studied empathy in their portfolio company CEOs (it has nothing to do with being "nice") Why people don't leave law firms — they leave partners (and what the data says about attrition costs) How to use the EQI 2.0 assessment to get a baseline and track growth 3 specific action steps to start elevating your emotional intelligence todayVisit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/YouTube: https://youtu.be/HrfAyoqt9EQ----------------------------------------If you are a successful law firm partner or law firm founder and want to hear about other options, please book a time on Scott Love's calendar here:https://calendly.com/scott-736/half-hour-phone-meeting-with-scottOr email Scott to connect with him at: [email protected]----------------------------------------🎙️ The Rainmaking Magazine helps lawyers, consultants, and professional service providers build thriving practices through smarter business development.📖 Subscribe to Rainmaking Magazine — free complimentary subscription: https://www.rainmakingmagazine.com----------------------------------------This show is sponsored by Leopard Solutions Legal Intelligence Suite of products, Firmscape, and Leopard BI. Push ahead of the pack with the power of Leopard. For a free demo, visit this link: https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/request-a-demo/----------------------------------------About David Sarnoff:I founded Sarnoff Group LLC to do work that actually moves people, not just training that gets forgotten by Monday morning, but coaching and development that changes how leaders think, communicate, and show up for their teams.As an ICF Certified Executive Coach, leadership trainer, and former attorney, I bring a perspective most coaches can't offer: I've lived inside the high-stakes, high-pressure environments my clients navigate every day. That background shapes everything about how I work.Links:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsarnoff/Website:   www.sarnoffgroup.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices