Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era Training

Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era

Lead with empathy, trust and good judgement as AI changes how your organisation works

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Platform:
Online
In-class
Revised and Updated: 08 October 2026
Date Venue Duration
12 - 13 October 2026 Sandton, Gauteng 2 Days
23 - 27 November 2026 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days

Course Introduction

As AI reshapes the workplace, the leaders who succeed will combine technological confidence with strong people skills. Automation changes roles and workflows, which brings uncertainty, fear of job loss, and resistance, and leaders must respond with empathy, trust, and clear communication. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the capacity to recognise and manage your own emotions and to understand and influence those of others, and it matters more, not less, when technology takes over routine tasks. 

 

This programme, available in a 2-day or a 5-day format, is for senior executives and emerging leaders. It builds self-awareness and self-regulation, empathy and trust in digital and hybrid settings, resilience through continuous change, and communication skills for leading teams that work alongside AI. It also builds the AI literacy leaders need to use AI tools well to prepare, reflect, and communicate, and to judge where AI should not be used on matters that call for human care. 

 

Participants complete validated self-reflection exercises, practise through role-plays and case studies drawn from AI-driven change, and leave with a personal leadership development plan and a plan for leading an AI-related change in their own team.

Course Duration Options

This Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course is available in two formats, so you can choose the depth that fits your time and needs: 

2-Day Essentials Core Skill Set

EI and AI foundations, self-awareness and self-regulation, leading people with empathy through AI-driven change, trust and difficult conversations, resilience, and a personal action plan.

Ideal for: leaders who need immediate, practical capability without an extended time commitment.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

  • Apply emotional intelligence to leadership decisions in an AI-augmented workplace 
  • Build self-awareness and self-regulation under technological pressure and change 
  • Preserve human connection: build empathy, trust, and authentic relationships as automation changes workflows 
  • Use AI tools to support preparation, reflection, and communication, while recognising their limits in understanding emotion 
  • Lead people through AI-related change: build psychological safety, address fears about jobs, and manage resistance 
  • Strengthen executive presence and influence across virtual, hybrid, and in-person settings 
  • Communicate effectively in conflict and difficult conversations during AI implementation 
  • Build organisational and personal resilience, a growth mindset, and adaptive leadership 
  • Use AI responsibly in people matters, including fairness, privacy, and transparency 

Who should attend?

  • Senior Executives and Business Leaders seeking to integrate emotional intelligence with AI to drive strategic decisions 
  • Managers and Team Leaders who lead teams in AI-augmented workplaces 
  • HR and Organisational Development Professionals building cultures that balance innovation with human-centred values 
  • Digital Transformation Leaders who need to align AI adoption with the human side of change 
  • Emerging Leaders and Professionals Moving into Leadership Roles in technology-driven settings 
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Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

2-Day Essentials — Training Outline

DAY 1 — Self, Others and Leading Through Change
Module 1: Emotional Intelligence and AI: The Leadership Case
  • What emotional intelligence is, the main models, and what the evidence does and does not show
  • What AI can and cannot do with emotion: why AI that claims to read emotions is unreliable, and why it needs caution
  • Where EI and AI complement each other in leadership
  • Practical Exercise: Identify three leadership moments in your organisation where human judgement must lead
Module 2: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation and Presence
  • Leadership self-assessment using validated EI tools, and interpreting the results
  • Strategic self-regulation under technological and workload pressure
  • Reflective leadership practices, and cultivating executive presence in digital environments
  • Practical Exercise: Complete a self-assessment and draft your personal EI development goals
Module 3: Leading with Empathy Through Technological Change
  • How people experience AI-driven change: fear of job loss, loss of status, and uncertainty, particularly in a South African context
  • Leading with empathy, being honest about what is not yet known, and building psychological safety
  • Cultural intelligence in AI adoption, including diverse teams and values such as ubuntu
  • Practical Exercise: Role-play: announce an AI-driven change to a worried team

DAY 2 — Trust, Communication and Leading AI-Integrated Teams
Module 4: Trust, Communication and Difficult Conversations
  • Building stakeholder trust, and authentic digital communication, including when AI-drafted messages undermine trust
  • Advanced listening, and balancing analytical and emotional communication
  • Handling resistance, scepticism, and conflict during AI implementation
  • Difficult conversations about role changes, performance, and AI use
  • Practical Exercise: Role-play a difficult conversation with a team member whose role is changing
Module 5: Resilience and Adaptive Leadership
  • Technical, cultural, and emotional resilience, and spotting burnout
  • A growth mindset and learning agility, and what the research does and does not show
  • Adapting leadership styles to context and to different team members
  • Practical Exercise: Assess your team's resilience and choose two actions to strengthen it
Module 6: Responsible Decisions and Your Action Plan
  • Using EI in AI-informed decision-making: when to trust the output, when to challenge it, and who stays accountable
  • Using AI responsibly in people decisions: fairness, privacy (POPIA), and transparency
  • Building your personal development plan, and a plan for leading an AI-related change in your team
  • Practical Exercise: Present your development plan and change-leadership plan for feedback

5-Day Comprehensive — Training Outline

Day 1 — Strategic Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
Module 1: Emotional Intelligence and AI: The Leadership Case
  • What emotional intelligence is, the main models, and what the evidence does and does not show
  • What AI can and cannot do with emotion: why AI that claims to read emotions is unreliable, and why it needs caution
  • Where EI and AI complement each other in leadership
  • Practical Exercise: Identify three leadership moments in your organisation where human judgement must lead
Module 2: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation and Presence
  • Leadership self-assessment using validated EI tools, and interpreting the results
  • Strategic self-regulation under technological and workload pressure
  • Reflective leadership practices for authenticity
  • Cultivating executive presence in digital environments
  • Practical Exercise: Complete a self-assessment and draft your personal EI development goals

Day 2 — Organisational Empathy and Digital Leadership
Module 3: Leading with Empathy Through Technological Change
  • How people experience AI-driven change: fear of job loss, loss of status, and uncertainty, particularly in a South African context
  • Leading with empathy during technological transformation, and being honest about what is not yet known
  • Building psychological safety: why teams need it to learn and report problems
  • Practical Exercise: Role-play: announce an AI-driven change to a worried team
Module 4: Trust, Culture and Authentic Digital Communication
  • Building stakeholder trust and a clear picture of stakeholders' concerns
  • Navigating cultural intelligence in AI adoption, including diverse teams and values such as ubuntu
  • Mastering authentic digital communication, and when AI-drafted messages undermine trust
  • Practical Exercise: Map stakeholders' concerns about an AI initiative, and plan how to address each

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FAQs – Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era

Master emotional intelligence in the AI era, learning self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, effective communication, relationship management, adaptability, and strategies for balancing human skills with emerging AI technologies.

What topics are covered in the Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course?
The course covers self-awareness and self-regulation in automated workplaces, balancing AI efficiency with human empathy, managing change resistance, digital communication dynamics, strategic decision-making, and fostering psychologically safe, collaborative team environments.
Who should attend the Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course?
This training is designed for executive leaders, department managers, HR professionals, team leads, project managers, and organizational transformation change agents who need to navigate team dynamics and lead effectively in technology-driven environments.
What skills will delegates develop through the Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course?
Delegates develop practical skills in empathetic leadership, conflict resolution across digital channels, maintaining human-centric customer and employee relationships, managing AI-induced anxiety or burnout, and leveraging emotional resilience to drive organizational strategy.
How long does the Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course take to complete?
The course is delivered as a focused short-course programme, with the duration determined by the scheduled programme and the specific training requirements of the organisation.
Why is emotional intelligence essential alongside rapid AI adoption?
While AI handles automation and quantitative analysis, human leadership relies on empathy, ethical judgment, negotiation, and relationship-building—qualities essential for maintaining trust, morale, and cohesive workplace culture during digital transitions.
Can Prospen Africa deliver the Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era course in-house?
Yes. Prospen Africa can deliver this training in-house, customising case studies, interactive exercises, and leadership models around your company's culture, restructuring goals, and specific digital transformation roadmap.

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