Emotional Intelligence for Teams

Our students are regularly expected to work on teams, but we don’t teach them how to be successful. Quiet students don’t know how to speak up; assertive students can’t tell when to listen; lack of decision-making strategies leads to avoidable conflict. Much research has been done in the past 20 years delineating the competencies of emotional intelligence and demonstrating that they can be trained, greatly improving people’s ability to work together. I have been teaching a successful ELO, Emotional Intelligence for Teams, in which first-years examine, explore, and incorporate insights and behaviors that build effective, trusting relationships. This grant application proposes expanding that ELO into a course for all undergraduates to develop the skills of collaboration that will enhance their success.