Using Emotional Intelligence to Enhance Productivity

November 1, 8, 15, and 29, 2012
From 4:15 - 6:15 p.m. Location James H. Clark Center, Room S361

Organizing Faculty:
   Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., Senior Consultant in Health Promotion at Vaden Health Center
   and Director, Stanford Forgiveness Projects

Developing Emotional Intelligence is an integrated lecture and guided practice workshop offered to all Stanford graduate students through the Stanford Graduate Institute. This course is about expanding the training that graduate students receive at Stanford to include the soft skills of emotional self awareness, emotional self management and improving interpersonal relationships. Students will leave the course with an enhanced understanding of their own and others' emotional intelligence and how to leverage this to make their lives more successful.

This hands-on workshop will complement what you are learning in your department, preparing you to use the skills of emotional intelligence in your career and life. It is based on our experience with many years of corporate work which our research shows improves productivity about 25% while decreasing stress and anger. This is NOT a "self-help" course, in the traditional sense - it is intended for the smartest among us who realize there is always more to learn around important, complex topics and that emotional intelligence is as crucial in the workplace as the more traditional forms of intelligence that receive undue emphasis in academic life.

We welcome graduate students from all disciplines who want to cross the boundaries between psychology and neuropsychology, business and human values, and are open to exploring ways of thinking that emphasize honest reflection, openness to experience and self awareness. Through a series of hands-on exercises, a range of assessments and lectures about aspects of emotional competence and success participants can broaden their vision of success and what satisfies them.

Topics will include what is emotional intelligence, what does research say about its value, how can emotional intelligence be taught, how do we assess emotional intelligence, how can we enhance our own emotional intelligence, how can we recognize our strengths and weaknesses, how can we design programs that teach emotional intelligence and why is emotional intelligence at least as important as IQ for success. Many lectures will include periods of guided practice in aspects of emotional intelligence such as stress management, communication skill building and enhancing positive emotion. These experiences are designed to enhance each participant's abilities to better deal with academic, career, and life issues. The workshop will be an avenue for learning that prepares you for real-world implementation.

Enrollment is limited to 25 students. The instructor will select students to assure a good balance of skills and backgrounds, and tends to give preference to students that apply early. Participants must attend all four sessions.

Application now CLOSED.