Emotional Intelligence
March 2025 - Mary Sherman
Yesterday, March 18, marked Health Workplace Well-Being Day, a time to reflect on the factors that contribute to a healthy, supportive work environment, especially in healthcare. While many focus on physical health and productivity, emotional intelligence (EQ) plays a critical role in fostering workplace well-being. EQ impacts communication, collaboration, resilience, and leadership—making it essential for both personal and professional success.
But what exactly is emotional intelligence, and how can we cultivate it?
Daniel Goleman, a leading expert on EQ, defines it as:
"Recognizing our own feelings and those of others, motivating ourselves, managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships."
Originally outlined in five key competencies—Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Empathy, Motivation, and Social Skills—EQ has since been refined into four core domains. Developing these skills can lead to stronger workplace relationships, better conflict resolution, and an overall healthier work culture.
Emotional & Social Competency Framework from Daniel Goleman:
Below are examples of a skill associated with each domain and a way to build that EQ skill:
Self-Awareness Recognizing your own emotions and how they impact your behavior.
Skill: Emotional Self-Awareness
How to Build It: Pause and take note of what you are feeling and where you feel it in your body.
Self-Management – Controlling your emotions, especially in stressful situations. Skill: Self-Regulation
How to Build It: Try mindfulness or deep breathing exercises to help your brain stay calm under pressure.
Social Awareness – The ability to understand and empathize with others, recognizing social cues and different perspectives.
Skill: Empathy
How to Build It: Try to understand and share the feelings of others while showing concern for their well-being.
Relationship Management – Controlling your emotions, especially in stressful situations.
Skill: Conflict Management
How to Build It: Approach disagreements with curiosity rather than judgment. Look for common ground and be flexible in finding solutions.
Why is having good EQ skills important?
58% of work success is linked to EQ Skills (TalentSmart).
90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence (TalentSmart).
EQ leads to more effective communication. Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, reports that “This enhances interpersonal relationships and leads to better collaborations (Cherry, 2022b). Further, with strong social and relational skills, people with high EQ make a positive impact on workplace culture and strengthen their team, which is pivotal for business success.”
Psi Chi notes that EQ also leads to more resilient employees and makes for better teammates.
EQ skills are important in many domains of our lives. Spend some time developing this important skill set. The more we grow these skills, the more positive impact we experience in our work and lives.
If you work at UVA and want to deepen your knowledge on Emotional Intelligence, you can join Kate Freeman on April 17, 9-12 for Emotional Intelligence in Action (Virtual).
About the Presenter: Kate Freeman, MS, is a Senior Learning and Development Consultant with a passion for helping individuals and teams build their skills and confidence. She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and is certified in EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 assessments through OKA, equipping her to coach and train professionals in strengthening their emotional intelligence. With extensive experience in talent development, facilitation, and workplace learning, Kate specializes in creating engaging programs that foster collaboration and professional growth.
FEAP is Here for You
It's completely okay—and encouraged—to seek support on your journey to cultivating kindness. The Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP) offers free, confidential consultations to help you build emotional intelligence (EQ) skills and navigate personal challenges. FEAP provides professional, personalized services tailored to your individual needs, whether you're looking to enhance kindness, improve well-being, or find guidance through life’s difficulties. Schedule an appointment today and take a step toward a more supportive and fulfilling path.
About the Author
Mary Sherman
A member of the FEAP team since 1996, Mary Sherman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional in Virginia.
Mary offers expertise in coaching, stress management, and more, helping individuals navigate diverse personal and workplace challenges.
Health Workforce Well-Being Day
Tuesday, March 18 | Health Workforce Well-Being Day aims to recognize the importance of protecting health workers’ well-being to sustain our health system and ensure quality patient care. It is also a day for action — learning from one another on the progress to advance the movement to support health worker well-being and expand evidence-informed solutions to make system-wide changes to improve health worker well-being and transform cultures. Learn more. Related resources are available on the Wisdom and Well-being website.