I’ve spent more winters in Finland than I can count. While most people escape the -25°C winds in search of warmer skies, I did the opposite. I packed my heaviest coat and headed straight into them — on purpose.
The first winter was rough. I couldn’t walk. Literally. I kept slipping on icy sidewalks. I tried everything: spike attachments for my shoes (which destroyed every wooden floor they touched - didn't make a lot of friends that winter), holding on to fences, sliding sideways… it didn’t work.
Then came the second winter. One afternoon, I was struggling again when a quiet six-year-old looked up at me and said: “You’re doing it wrong. Just walk like this.” He lifted his knees high, exaggerated each step, and marched through the ice with ease. That was Antti — my nephew — and he was absolutely right.
There’s even a theory behind it: high-knee walking distributes weight better on slippery surfaces. But Antti didn’t need a study. He just knew.
What does this have to do with work?
A lot, actually.
Sometimes, the best insights come from places we least expect — but we have to be emotionally intelligent enough to recognize them. That means listening. Observing. Letting go of what we think we know. Being willing to try something new.
In the workplace, especially in data-driven environments, this becomes even more important.
Data without empathy is just numbers
I’ve worked with teams going through difficult transitions — shifting metrics, policy changes, new goals. Sometimes data was delivered like a hammer: cold, final, impersonal.
But data is never the enemy. And when we approach it with emotional intelligence, it becomes something else: an invitation to understand, to adjust, and to grow.
It’s easy to see a low number and feel defeated. But what if that same number was framed as: “Here’s where we’re starting. Let’s explore what’s behind it. Let’s solve this together.”
That’s emotional intelligence applied to analytics. It doesn’t mean hiding reality. It means communicating it with purpose — and with care.
Active listening — to everyone
Not just clients. Not just leadership. Everyone. Real listening means noticing not only what is said, but what is left unsaid — especially across cultures, remote teams, or high-stress moments.
Because just like I did with Antti that icy day — when I copied his steps and changed mine — the act of learning from others is often what allows progress to happen.
The real takeaway
Artificial Intelligence can process data. Emotional Intelligence helps us process people. And when we bring both into the workplace, we don’t just improve performance — we elevate the experience.
So don’t ignore the small signals (or small people). Don’t disregard any insight, even if it comes from a child, or a number you weren’t expecting. All data is useful — if we choose to see it that way.
And next time you feel like you’re slipping — on metrics, on morale, or just on the ice — remember: someone out there already knows how to walk. You just have to be willing to listen.