How do you leverage emotional intelligence to create a positive and supportive learning environment?

Empathy is one of the core skills of EI. Teachers are more effective when they practice empathy. I frame my teaching philosophy on this idea and strive to understand my students, communicate that understanding, express care, and minimize barriers that get in their way of learning. In practice, an empathic pedagogy includes teaching moves like 1)do my own exercises or assignments to see what lands 2)integrate low or no-risk activities into curriculum, 3)scaffold my verbal coaching (from very directive early in the course), 4)chucking large projects into smaller pieces, 5)honor the wholeness and diversity of students by reducing status markers and checking for accessibility of all course materials, and 6)provide students choice.

It's important to note that this is a skill to develop. As mentioned, we learn to master our emotions, become mindful of others, and realize how all this plays together. EI enables us to see the invisible threads between our connections. The emotional aspects of our brain, such as the amygdala and other parts of the limbic system, are more evolutionarily ancient than the logical aspects of our brain, such as the prefrontal cortex. This means the emotional aspect of our brain is deeply rooted in our instincts and requires us to develop the logical aspects of our brain to incorporate the deep emotional intelligence the body has. EI is how we tame the ancient parts of our brains.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a skill and each one of us has different abilities based upon our education and lived experience. EQ is always present both consciously and subconsciously, and oftentimes teachers and learners are not entirely aware of how skilled they are (or are not) in emotional intelligence. EQ is extremely important for anyone who facilitates learning. All the components of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, understanding the diversity of perspectives inherent among learners, the ability to manage one's emotions) are critical to be an effective teacher, role model, and leader. The benefits of EQ are possible only when facilitators intentionally bring their own emotional intelligence into the classroom.

Layering in the emotional depth with our logical brains deepens our connection to others and impacts our work. When we apply this to learning, the same happens. We can work to find what inspires us and drive our progress forward when we learn from our emotions and what matters to us. Our emotions are signals. The logical brain is the captain, and it's our job to read the signals and redirect the course toward our ideal future. If we lack either, we will struggle to progress in our learning.

Getting an outside perspective can be helpful, but we often know the big pain points or blind spots in our emotional intelligence. Do we get angry at the drop of a hat? Are we offended by anything we disagree with? How do we handle challenging situations? These questions and self-reflection will best guide our journey of developing strong emotional intelligence. A humble approach and beginner's mindset allow us to build our skills day by day.

Because EI skills are used in everyday life, these skills are best assessed in simulated real world situations. Self-assessments, 360-degree feedback are good. Yet, they don't provide a full view of one’s skills. Self-assessments + 360-degree feedback + real world simulations offer the most accurate and comprehensive assessment approach. Diversifying feedback gives a more accurate reflection of growth. The purpose of assessment is to show learners (and their stakeholders) how they have grown. With any assessment strategy participants should see their assessment results and engage in feedback and coaching conversations with a mentor about their growth, and collaboratively create plans for continuous improvement.

Inviting another person in, such as a therapist or coach, can transform your EQ by giving you a partner to sort things out with. Our intuition can tell us so much, but for those of us who are new to the EQ game, it really helps to learn from/alongside others!