It's not personal. But it feels like it is.
You're good at your job. You care about your team. And yet you're driving home replaying a conversation for the third time, wondering why it went sideways again. I help middle leaders in corporate jobs gain communication skills and confidence to stop dreading Mondays and start leading with authority.
Why Your Conversations Keep Going Sideways — and the One Shift That Fixes It.
Free, no fluff, yours in two minutes.
I know that Sunday feeling.
Years ago, when I was a Retail Operations Manager at Greggs, I sat in my car outside one of my shops on a Sunday morning and realised I didn't want to walk in. No drama. No crisis. I just phoned my wife and told her the truth: I had nothing left. I was capable. I'd worked my way from the McDonald's floor into management, run restaurants and delivery units for Pizza Hut, held fifty shops together, and been the UK's youngest pub licensee at 21. And I was still stuck. If that sounds familiar, you're not broken, and you're not alone. Most middle leaders were promoted because they were good at the job, then handed pressure from above and people below, with no real training on the one skill that decides everything: how to handle the conversations that matter.
Four ways to start, all of them simple.
1
Grab the free guide.
Why Your Conversations Keep Going Sideways explains what's really happening when your words land wrong, and the one shift that changes it.
2
Read the book.
Emotional Intelligence Unleashed is the foundation: managing your own state, understanding others, and the NLP techniques that make both practical.
3
Listen to the podcast.
Breaking the Circle for Leaders, every Tuesday. Real stories from thirty years of management, and the patterns underneath them.
4
Join the free Facebook group.
The Difficult Conversations Club is where middle leaders compare notes on the conversations that matter. Free, and open to everyone.
Already Read the Book? Get Your Handouts.
Thanks for picking up Emotional Intelligence Unleashed. Every worksheet and exercise from the book lives inside The Empowered Leader's Circle, our readers' community — free with your purchase, and there whenever you need it.
See What Our Readers Say About the Book
David
"The author seamlessly integrates the principles of NLP with emotional intelligence, presenting a holistic roadmap for personal and professional development. I loved the practicality of the book and the immediate impact the simple techniques can have."
Eleanor
"Life-changing read. It addresses the constant frustration and burnout that many middle managers face. Jon Manning doesn't just theorize; he provides real-world strategies for immediate relief."
Marcus
"A must-read for leaders who need to step up their communication game. I’ve been able to defuse team conflicts using the framing techniques he teaches. It's a game-changer for daily workplace interactions."
Priya
"What sets this apart from other EI books is the focus on making confident decisions and setting goals that truly stick. It felt like I was finally given the instruction manual for my own mind."
"The most clear and actionable guide on managing stress I have ever read. The 'Shift' technique alone was worth the purchase price. Highly recommend for anyone feeling overwhelmed."
Sophia
"The author has a rare ability to simplify complex psychological concepts into easy, repeatable steps. This isn't just theory; it’s an application guide written by a true master practitioner."
Who am I to tell you any of this?
Thirty years of managing real teams in real businesses: McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and thirteen years at Greggs looking after fifty-plus shops. I've done the investigations, the closures, the impossible conversations, and made most of the mistakes first so you don't have to. I'm also an NLP Master Practitioner and the author of Emotional Intelligence Unleashed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this only for middle managers?
It's written for middle leaders, anyone with pressure from above and people below. That includes team leaders, heads of department, deputy heads, ward managers and operations managers. If the pain points fit, the tools fit.
What is NLP, in plain English?
Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a set of practical techniques for managing your own state and communicating more effectively. Think of it as the "how" that makes emotional intelligence usable in a tense Tuesday meeting rather than just a nice idea.
What's a Personal Energy Strategy?
It's an understanding of how you're naturally wired to work, make decisions and lead. Some people are built for steady, sustainable output, others for bursts. When you work with your wiring instead of against it, the exhaustion drops. No prior knowledge of anything is needed.
Is the Facebook group free?
Yes. The Difficult Conversations Club is free and open to any corporate leader who wants to get better at the conversations that matter. (The Empowered Leader's Circle, our members' community where the book handouts and course materials live, comes with any purchase.)
I've bought the book. How do I get my handouts?
Book buyers get access to The Empowered Leader's Circle, and every worksheet and exercise is waiting in its Learning Zone, permanently.
Stop replaying conversations at night.
Get the free guide and find out why they keep going sideways, and the one shift that fixes it.
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