Episode 13: Emotional Intelligence for Healthcare Providers

In part 1 of a two-part series, we break down emotional intelligence (EQ), what it is, and how it shows up in clinical practice. We have discussed several of the skills of EQ in our previous episodes, so it’s about time we focus specifically on this skill! 

Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor your own and others' feelings, to discriminate amongst them, and use this information to guide your thinking and action. EQ is a skill that can be developed, the cornerstone of those elusive yet important “soft skills.” We discuss the skills which make up EQ, based on the works of Daniel Goleman and Salovey & Mayer. 

Although “being emotional” carries a negative connotation in the workplace, the truth is that we all feel. We feel joy, gratitude, anger, sadness, compassion, even pain when working with patients. The more nuanced we can be when naming emotions and the quicker we pay attention to an emotion,  the easier it will be to diffuse. 

Our EQ helps or hinders our ability to cultivate healthy relationships with patients and peers. The emotions we acknowledge in others build trust and safety. The emotions we miss lead to miscommunication, lack of motivation, and frustration for both parties. EQ is an essential component for developing healthy patient-provider relationships.

Tune in next week for Part 2: Strategies to Improve Your EQ! 

Highlights from our conversation in Episode 13 

(0:40)  Welcome back to The Conscious Clinician, this week we discuss emotional intelligence 

(2:42)  Defining emotional intelligence 

(4:25)  Skill 1: Self Awareness 

(6:30)  Building our emotional vocabulary 

(14:45)  Skill 2: Self Regulation

(20:09)  Skill 3: Motivation 

(21:13)  Skill 4: Empathy 

(24:03)  Emotional blind spots

(30:58)  Monika & Sammy’s EQ difficulties 

(36:24)  Skill 5: Social Skills 

(37:10) 4 skills from Salovey and Mayer model 

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Links

• HBR’s 10 Must Read on Emotional Intelligence (1:27; 4:25; 14:45, 20:09; 21:13; 36:24)
• Salovey and Mayer 1990 (2:16; 2:42; 37:10)
• Feelings Inventory (7:55)
• Emotion Wheel (8:00)
• Test Your Emotional Intelligence (12:58)
• The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren (25:30; 27:21)
• Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook
• Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician
• Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika