The Resilient Leadership model borrows the phrase “emotional process,” from Bowen Systems Theory to refer to a level of functioning that is much deeper than we generally associate with the word “emotions,” or feelings. The phrase “emotional process,” while including the realm of feelings, refers primarily to instinctual dimensions of our makeup that are often too deep for conscious awareness. Two key realms of behavior that offer a window into the presence of emotional process are described in the sections of the model referred to as "Self-Other Forces" and "Automatic Functioning."

The Resilient Leadership model suggests that watching for emotional process yields extremely useful data--information that allows a leader to understand the "hidden chemistry" of an organization (or any other relationship network) and take highly effective action in light of that understanding.

The uniquely valuable perspective that is opened up by watching the dynamics of emotional process is what is referred to as “A New Way of SEEING.”