Louise Evans’ The 5 Chairs: A Life-Changing Model for Leadership & Behavioral Intelligence
In a world where reactive behaviors and miscommunication often hinder success, Louise Evans has created a groundbreaking solution: The 5 Chairs. Described as “self-awareness on steroids,” this transformative model helps individuals and organizations master behavioral agility, conscious communication, and relationship mastery. From global luxury brands to tech giants, and even schools teaching emotional intelligence to young children, The 5 Chairs is reshaping the way people think, interact, and lead. In this exclusive interview, Louise shares the inspiration behind her powerful framework, its real-world impact, and her vision for a more emotionally intelligent future.
The 5 Chairs methodology has been described as “life-changing” and “self-awareness on steroids.” What inspired you to create this transformative model, and what was the defining moment when you knew it would have such a powerful impact?
I created The 5 Chairs because I was deeply inspired by the need to help individuals navigate their behaviors and emotions consciously and productively. The inspiration came from observing how unconscious reactions—like judgment, blame, and fear—cripple relationships and teamwork. I wanted to create a tool which was psycho-accessible and memorable hence the 5 colored chairs with their animal metaphors representing different ways of behaving in the world.
TEDx Louise Evans https://youtu.be/4BZuWrdC-9Q
The defining moment came during a workshop when participants shared how this simple visual model helped them see themselves clearly for the first time. It was as if a light switch turned on. Their emotional shifts and heightened self-awareness made me realize this model could transform lives across every age, culture, and industry.
You emphasise Behavioral Agility, Conscious Communication, and Relationship Mastery as the core pillars of The 5 Chairs. Can you explain how these elements contribute to personal and professional growth?
Behavioral Agility: The 5 Chairs equips individuals to pause and choose their behavior rather than react impulsively. This agility allows people to respond thoughtfully to challenges, creating better outcomes in personal and professional settings.
Conscious Communication: The Chairs encourage us to take ownership of the way we are communicating by choosing our words carefully and consciously. The learning journey is from conflict to connection, helping individuals listen deeply and speak empathetically.
Relationship Mastery: The Chairs are designed to build the emotional intelligence needed to nurture trust, resolve misunderstandings, and build thriving, collaborative relationships.
So together, these pillars help individuals evolve into strong, resilient leaders and communicators.
You’ve worked with various organisations, from luxury brands like Gucci and Valentino to tech companies like Honeywell. How have you adapted The 5 Chairs to suit different organizational cultures and leadership styles?
The beauty of The 5 Chairs lies in its universal applicability. We tailor the delivery and focus to suit each organization’s values, challenges, and leadership culture.
Luxury Brands: We emphasize mindfulness, grace under pressure, and collaboration for emotionally intelligent leadership that reflects their high standards.
Tech Companies: We highlight conscious communication, problem-solving agility, and the ability to navigate uncertainty
Non-Profits: Here, the model fosters compassion, trust, and emotional resilience.
By aligning The 5 Chairs with the company’s specific context, it becomes a tool leaders and teams can immediately use.
One of the most impressive applications of The 5 Chairs is in schools, where children as young as four learn to differentiate between productive and unproductive behaviours. Can you share some success stories of how this has impacted young learners?
One of my favorite stories comes from a kindergarten teacher who said, “The children use The 5 Chairs like magic.” They intuitively grasped the concept and began saying things like, “I’m in the Jackal Chair, but I want to move to the Dolphin Chair.” This language empowered them to pause, reflect, and make conscious choices about their behavior.
In another case, a group of 10-year-olds shared how The Giraffe Chair helped them become “kind friends,” solving conflicts without shouting. These examples show how The 5 Chairs builds emotional intelligence at a young age, planting seeds for a more empathetic generation.
As someone who has travelled to 75 countries and lived in three different cultures, how has your global perspective shaped your approach to coaching and leadership training?
Living and working globally has taught me that, at our core, we all face similar struggles: miscommunication, unconscious biases, and reactive behaviors. However, I’ve also learned to honour and appreciate cultural nuances in communication and leadership styles.
This global perspective ensures that The 5 Chairs will resonate universally while respecting local cultural diversity. It’s not just a leadership tool—it’s a human tool.
Your book The Magnificent 5 – Heroic Journeys (Amazon) introduces The 5 Chairs to children. What do you hope young readers will gain from this book, and how do you envision it influencing future generations?
I hope children will learn that they have the power to choose their behavior—how they speak, act, and relate to others. Through engaging storytelling, I want to help them develop emotional intelligence early, so they grow up to be compassionate, resilient, and self-aware adults.
The impact of teaching this to young minds is profound. They will not only navigate life’s challenges better but also contribute to a kinder, more conscious world.
In today’s fast-paced and highly connected world, digital intelligence is becoming increasingly important. How does The 5 Chairs model integrate with the concept of digital intelligence, and why is it critical for leaders today?
Digital intelligence requires leaders to balance the use of technology with human connection. The 5 Chairs helps leaders manage their behaviors in a digital space:
The Jackal Chair reminds us to avoid reactive, judgmental online interactions.
The Meerkat Chair teaches awareness of digital distractions and mindful use of technology. It also invites us to be on board and explore the AI revolution with curiosity.
The Giraffe Chair helps promotes empathy and connection, especially in virtual teams.
Integrating The 5 Chairs into digital spaces ensures leaders remain emotionally intelligent while also leveraging technology.
You emphasize the importance of unconscious bias and diversity in your training. How does The 5 Chairs methodology help individuals and teams become more aware of and overcome biases that hinder inclusion and effective communication?
The Hedgehog Chair is where we confront our fears and biases. It encourages deep reflection and self-awareness, helping us identify patterns and beliefs we may not even know exist. We are constantly reminded that ‘my way’ is only one way, so by adopting the curiosity of the Meerkat and the empathy of the Giraffe Chair inclusion becomes so much more tangible.
In team settings, The 5 Chairs creates a shared language that opens up difficult conversations about bias and diversity in a safe and structured way.
Since The 5 Chairs is such a versatile tool, how do you recommend individuals balance their professional and personal lives while applying the principles of this model across both spheres?
The principles of The 5 Chairs are designed for life—whether at home, in the office, or even with yourself. Start small:
At work, observe which “Chair” you’re in during conflicts or meetings.
At home, use the model to improve family communication and relationships.
With yourself, reflect daily on where you “sat” and which Chair you want to use more.
This holistic approach creates harmony between professional success and personal well-being.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for spreading The 5 Chairs message? Do you envision expanding its reach to new sectors or regions?
My ultimate vision is for The 5 Chairs to become a global movement. I aim to reach new sectors—healthcare, sustainability—and bring The 5 Chairs into underrepresented regions where behavioral and emotional intelligence can create transformational change.
I also dream of seeing The 5 Chairs integrated into educational curriculums worldwide so that emotional intelligence becomes second nature for future generations.
