How can you use social emotional learning to build positive relationships with colleagues?

1 Assess your own emotions

One of the first steps to use SEL in your workplace is to be aware of your own emotions and how they affect your behavior and performance. You can use tools such as journaling, mindfulness, or emotional intelligence tests to reflect on your feelings, triggers, strengths, and areas for improvement. By assessing your own emotions, you can better regulate them, avoid impulsive reactions, and cope with stress and challenges.

2 Listen actively and empathetically

Another key skill of SEL is to listen actively and empathetically to your colleagues, especially when you have different opinions or perspectives. Active listening means paying attention to what the other person is saying, asking open-ended questions, summarizing and clarifying their points, and giving feedback. Empathetic listening means trying to understand the other person's feelings, needs, and motivations, and expressing your support and respect. By listening actively and empathetically, you can build trust, rapport, and mutual understanding with your colleagues.

3 Communicate assertively and respectfully

When you need to express your ideas, opinions, or feedback to your colleagues, you can use SEL to communicate assertively and respectfully. Assertive communication means stating your views clearly and confidently, without being aggressive or passive. Respectful communication means using polite and positive language, avoiding personal attacks or criticism, and acknowledging the other person's perspective. By communicating assertively and respectfully, you can avoid conflicts, promote collaboration, and create a positive work culture.

4 Manage and resolve conflicts

Sometimes, conflicts are inevitable in the workplace, due to different personalities, goals, or expectations. However, you can use SEL to manage and resolve conflicts in a constructive and respectful way. You can use strategies such as identifying the root cause of the conflict, focusing on the common interests and goals, brainstorming solutions together, compromising and negotiating, and following up on the outcomes. By managing and resolving conflicts, you can improve your relationships, enhance your performance, and learn from your experiences.

5 Seek and offer feedback

Feedback is essential for your professional growth and development, as well as for your relationships with your colleagues. You can use SEL to seek and offer feedback in a constructive and respectful way. You can seek feedback by asking specific and open-ended questions, listening to the feedback without being defensive or argumentative, and thanking the person for their input. You can offer feedback by being specific and timely, focusing on the behavior and not the person, and using the sandwich method (positive-negative-positive). By seeking and offering feedback, you can improve your skills, appreciate your strengths, and support your colleagues.

6 Celebrate and appreciate diversity

Diversity is a valuable asset in the workplace, as it brings different perspectives, experiences, and talents to the team. You can use SEL to celebrate and appreciate diversity in your workplace, by learning about and respecting the different cultures, backgrounds, and identities of your colleagues, being inclusive and supportive of their needs and preferences, and recognizing and valuing their contributions. By celebrating and appreciating diversity, you can create a sense of belonging, foster innovation and creativity, and enhance your team's performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?