A Key to Student Success

Building Emotional Intelligence

ABMP Education Program Director

Anne Williams

Session Overview

Define emotional intelligence

Identify characteristics of Gen Y students

Determine what emotional intelligence skills can be taught in a massage classroom

Discuss best practices for building emotional intelligence in students

Explore two emotional intelligence building activities

An area of psychological research popularized by Daniel Goldman’s 1995 bestseller, Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional Intelligence Characteristics The ability to assess and supervise

one’s emotions, thoughts, and self.

To be aware of the emotions of others and of groups.

To discriminate among emotions and thoughts and use this information to guide future thinking and actions.

Gen Y population growing and they need these skills!

Why Pay Attention to EI?

GEN Y STUDENTS

BORN BETWEEN 1982 AND 1994

COULD COMPRISE UP TO 2/3 OF YOUR STUDENTS

Interpersonal skills less developed

Computer skills strong

Skeptical and desensitized

Multi-task – enjoy multiple stimuli

Feel comfortable challenging others

Hold high expectations selves/others

Negotiate everything

What Employers Say

A sense of entitlement

Bright, but deficient in initiative and energy

Will not sacrifice outside activities for job advancement

Quality of personal life more important than advancement

Low tolerance for “meaningless work” even if well-paid

Unlikely to volunteer, even for good cause

Strongly connected to peer group and pack mentality

Cynical about job security

Massage Students = Massage Professionals

MASSAGE THERAPISTS MUST HAVE VERY HIGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Massage Students = Massage Professionals

Work with all people Establish a therapeutic relationship Provide safe, informed touch Set clear boundaries Plan a treatment Adapt to client needs Interact with other health care

providers

Emotional Intelligence Skills

Self-awareness Self-assessment Self-empowerment Crisis management Problem solving Positive thinking Communication Tolerance for

others

Activities to build emotional intelligence would benefit students academically and when they enter the profession.

Time for a Poll!

What Skills Can Schools

Teach Successfully?

Understand negative thought processes

Recognize relationship between thoughts, feelings, and actions

Teach students a process to interrupt negative thinking

Self-Awareness

Identify limiting beliefs

Teach students a process for soothing themselves and stepping back from a situation

Use goal setting and follow up to demonstrate power to change destiny

Self-Empowerment

Understanding others

Paying attention to body language cues

Learning models of good communication like the use of “I” statements

Recognizing communication blockers

Practicing active communication

Communication Skills

Learn to be a leader

Learn to be a follower

Value contributions of all participants

Recognize emotional triggers

Follow through on commitments

Group Interaction

Step out of the emotional spiral

Understand the factors at play in a conflict

Identify wants and needs

Manage emotions

Seek an equitable resolution

Conflict Resolution

Simple Ideas to Promote EI

Teach Processes Any adopted process must be used consistently

by all Assess Grading Procedures

Shift some of the emphasis of grading points to personal development activities and group interaction

Identify and Value Differences Myers-Briggs & Learning Styles for example

Share Feelings Process activities

SAMPLE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY

Are We Progressing?

Are We Progressing

Breaks stuck patterns of interaction Positive way to voice concerns about group

dynamics Builds accountability for how the group

functions

Important: Use this activity consistently After each discussion One time a week At pre-determined intervals At least one time a month

Are We Progressing?

DIRECTIONS Pass out handout Students do not place name on handout Students complete handout Hold General Discussion

How is our team progressing?

What is improving?

What is stagnant?

What is declining?

Are We Progressing

DIRECTIONS CONTINUED Ask Each Student:

What can our team do to make one of your scores increase?

What can you do on a personal level to make one of your scores increase?

Collect the handouts Calculate the averages Enter the averages on a chart Post the chart Continue to add averages to the chart over

time

SAMPLE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY Mood Check

Mood Check

Develops awareness of mood How it effects academic performance How it effects learning environment How it effects others How to refocus and regain

a more positive attitude

Mood Check

DIRECTIONS Make laminated chart Post by classroom door Ask students to make a dot by those words

that best describe their moods Process the findings before classes

Many Uses Before activity After activity Any time motivation is low

As we look at the board and where people have placed their dots, what patterns do we see?

How might these emotional patterns affect the classroom experience today?

How aware of your mood were you when you walked through the classroom door?

How aware of the moods of your fellow classmates were you when you walked through the door?

Did anyone in the class influence your mood when you walked through the door? How?

What can we do to change the classroom mood to make it more productive? OR How can we capitalize on the classroom mood to get the most out of today’s class?

Processing Responses to the Mood Check

NEXT STEPS

Class dynamics early

Add emotional intelligence content to classes

Give points for emotional intelligence

Plan personal growth activities with a point value

Plan group activities where students take clearly defined rolls

Resources

ABMP’s Student Success Curriculum (www.abmp.com / School Alliance Section)

Daniel Goldman: Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ

Applying Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom

Conclusions

Defined emotional intelligence

Identified the characteristics of emotional intelligence

Discussed Gen Y students

Recognized EI skills that can be taught

Identified some EI building activities

QUESTIONS