Case Study – Emotional Intelligence Breakthrough Using Jenga + Somatic Work
From Delhi To Berlin – A Leader’s Emotional Intelligence Transformation
This case study illustrates how the Jenga + NLP + Somatic Emotional Intelligence Model helped a senior leader who frequently travelled between Delhi (India) and Berlin (Germany). Names and certain details have been changed to protect confidentiality, while keeping the essence of the transformation intact.
Leaders in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, London, New York, Amsterdam, Singapore, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne and other cities will recognise similar patterns in their own lives and organisations.
Background – High Performance, Hidden Cost
Our participant – let’s call him Arjun – was a senior technology leader working with teams in Delhi, Bangalore and Berlin.
- He led high-stakes projects across India and Europe.
- He often flew between Delhi, Berlin, London and Amsterdam for client meetings.
- On paper, his career looked successful. Internally, he was exhausted.
Arjun described his experience like this:
- “My mind never stops. Even in New York or Zurich, I’m still thinking about last week’s argument in Delhi.”
- “I know the theory of emotional intelligence. I’ve read books. But when someone challenges me in a meeting, my body just goes into fight mode.”
The Symptoms – When Cognitive EI Wasn’t Enough
Despite attending multiple leadership and EI workshops, Arjun observed:
- Short temper and reactivity in intense meetings in Delhi and Bangalore.
- Emotional shutdown when working with teams in Berlin and London – he would go numb instead of expressing himself.
- Physical symptoms – tight chest, shallow breathing, disturbed sleep during trips to New York and Singapore.
He understood emotional intelligence cognitively, but his body was stuck in old patterns.
The Intervention – Jenga + NLP + Somatic Emotional Intelligence
Arjun joined an experiential Emotional Intelligence program based on my Jenga + NLP + Somatic model, which I run through the Emotional Fitness Gym® Workshop and related Somatic Emotional Mastery Program.
Over a series of sessions, we focused on three layers:
- Layer 1 – Awareness (Cognitive EI)
Mapping his emotional triggers in Delhi, Bangalore, Berlin, London and New York. Identifying specific situations where his reactions were out of proportion. - Layer 2 – Somatic EI
Noticing where his body tightened, froze or collapsed (chest, throat, jaw, stomach). Learning simple, safe regulation practices he could use in meetings, airports and hotels. - Layer 3 – Jenga Model™ – Making Patterns Visible
Using Jenga blocks, each representing a belief, emotion or pattern (for example: “I must never show weakness in front of clients”). Slowly re-arranging the blocks to build a more resourceful inner structure.
Key Moments In The Journey
Some pivotal shifts during Arjun’s journey:
- Moment 1 – Naming The Pattern
In one Jenga exercise, Arjun realised that the same pattern – “attack first before you are attacked” – was playing out in Delhi, Berlin, London and New York. The geography changed; the emotional pattern did not. - Moment 2 – Feeling Instead Of Numbing
During a somatic process, instead of escaping into his head, he stayed with a tight feeling in his chest. As he breathed through it, he accessed long-suppressed grief about a past project failure in Mumbai. - Moment 3 – Rebuilding The Tower
With the Jenga blocks, we removed “attack first” and “never show weakness” as core blocks, and replaced them with “I can be firm and kind” and “vulnerability used wisely builds trust”. This created a new internal architecture for his emotional intelligence.
Results – Emotional Intelligence In Action
Within weeks, Arjun and his organisation noticed measurable changes across locations:
- Calmer presence in Delhi & Bangalore
In previously tense meetings, he stayed grounded, listened fully and responded with clarity instead of escalation. - Stronger relationships in Berlin & London
His colleagues reported feeling “more heard” and “less intimidated”. Conflicts reduced and collaboration improved. - Better regulation on global travel
He used somatic EI practices during flights between India, Germany, UK, US and APAC. Sleep quality improved, and his recovery time after intense travel dropped. - More authentic leadership
He allowed himself to admit uncertainty, ask for help and share impact – without losing authority. This increased trust with teams in Mumbai, Pune, Amsterdam, New York and Singapore.
Why This Case Study Matters For You
You do not need to be a travelling tech leader between Delhi and Berlin to relate to this story. Similar patterns show up for:
- Founders and CXOs in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata.
- Leaders in finance, consulting and tech across London, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta.
- Coaches and therapists working with clients in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Zurich, Birmingham, Manchester.
The key message is simple: cognitive EI is a powerful starting point; somatic EI and experiential models like Jenga create deeper, lasting shifts.
If You See Yourself In This Story – Next Steps
If parts of Arjun’s journey feel familiar, you can:
- Start with the authority and comparison pages:
👉 What Is Emotional Intelligence?
👉 Somatic EI vs Cognitive EI – Comparison - Dive deeper into the complete EI guide:
👉 The Complete Emotional Intelligence Guide - Explore experiential EI programs:
👉 Emotional Fitness Gym® Workshop
👉 Somatic Emotional Mastery Program
👉 Corporate Emotional Intelligence Program
About The Facilitator Behind This Case Study
This case study reflects the work of Anil Dagia – creator of the Emotional Fitness Gym®, NLP Master Trainer, ICF mentor coach and designer of the world’s first Emotional Intelligence development model integrating Jenga, NLP and somatic processes.
To understand how this case study fits into a larger ecosystem (NLP, ICF coaching, EI and business-building), explore:
Frequently Asked Questions – EI Case Study: Jenga + Somatic Work
What is this emotional intelligence case study about?
This case study describes how a participant used Jenga-based experiential work, somatic techniques and structured coaching conversations to unlock a major emotional intelligence breakthrough. The journey begins in Delhi and extends to Berlin, showing how deeper awareness, nervous-system regulation and new behaviours created lasting change in their work, relationships and self-confidence.
How were Jenga and somatic work used in this emotional intelligence process?
The Jenga blocks were used as a visible representation of emotional patterns, beliefs and coping mechanisms. Through guided somatic awareness and NLP-based questioning, the participant identified which blocks represented old patterns of fear, shame or over-responsibility, and then safely experimented with removing and rearranging them. This created a powerful body-based shift, especially when working with grief, anxiety and people-pleasing behaviours in both Delhi and Berlin.
What changed for the participant after this emotional intelligence breakthrough?
After the process, the participant reported greater clarity, calmer decision-making, healthier boundaries and the ability to stay regulated during high-pressure conversations. They noticed these changes not just at home and at work in Delhi, but also when they relocated to Berlin and started working with colleagues, clients and leaders across Europe, the UK and the US in cities such as London, Amsterdam, Zurich and New York.
Can I experience a similar Jenga + somatic emotional intelligence process?
Yes. The same core methodology is used in Anil Dagia’s Emotional Fitness Gym® Workshop, Somatic Emotional Mastery Program and corporate emotional intelligence interventions. These can be delivered in person in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, London, Birmingham, Manchester, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne, or online for global participants. You can book a Free 30-Minute Clarity Call to explore what fits you best.
