Dependency, Independence and Interdependence in Leadership
Mon Feb 02 2026
This episode came straight from real life. As I watched my son move from dependence to independence, it made me pause and reflect on how dependency shows up in leadership and in the workplace.
What we expect from others, what we take on ourselves, and how easily those patterns shift without us really noticing.
I explore dependency through an emotional intelligence lens and look at why interdependence, not total independence or reliance, is where the strongest leadership sits.
This is a reflective, honest episode for leaders who want to understand how their behaviour shapes confidence, trust and performance in others.
Highlights:
(01:42) Why dependency is an emotional intelligence behaviour we rarely talk about
(03:45) Dependency, independence and interdependence explained simply
(06:58) How early life experiences shape our leadership style at work
(09:55) When leadership roles change and dependency shifts with them
(11:45) How leaders unintentionally create dependency, and how to reset it
Connect with Emma:
LinkedIn
Website
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio
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This episode came straight from real life. As I watched my son move from dependence to independence, it made me pause and reflect on how dependency shows up in leadership and in the workplace. What we expect from others, what we take on ourselves, and how easily those patterns shift without us really noticing. I explore dependency through an emotional intelligence lens and look at why interdependence, not total independence or reliance, is where the strongest leadership sits. This is a reflective, honest episode for leaders who want to understand how their behaviour shapes confidence, trust and performance in others. Highlights: (01:42) Why dependency is an emotional intelligence behaviour we rarely talk about (03:45) Dependency, independence and interdependence explained simply (06:58) How early life experiences shape our leadership style at work (09:55) When leadership roles change and dependency shifts with them (11:45) How leaders unintentionally create dependency, and how to reset it Connect with Emma: LinkedIn Website This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio