Increasing sensitivity
Featured in the Using Emotional Intelligence at Work training manual
By Mike Bagshaw
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
Good communication is essential if organisations are to function effectively. At the very least, managers need to communicate instructions clearly, so that jobs are done properly. But we need more in today’s flatter, more dynamic organisations. We need everyone to communicate well at a deeper level, to be skilled at persuading, challenging, giving feedback, sharing knowledge, and building on other’s ideas. Sometimes, people fail to communicate well, not because of any lack of verbal fluency, but because they have some emotional block – perhaps fear of embarrassment, conflict or humiliation. These defensive routines result in key people in the organisation not always knowing what they need to know. It is an important skill to be able to sense the mood, or ‘listen to the music behind the words’. We have to be sensitive to the verbal and non-verbal indicators of underlying and un-stated feelings and needs.
Participants first consider their ability to label their own feelings accurately. They then carry out exercises that improve their ability to observe the more subtle non-verbal indicators of emotional states. After exploring the relevance of non-verbal acuity in the workplace, they do an exercise to heighten their awareness of verbal indicators of underlying feelings and needs. Finally
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to enable participants to be sensitive to the needs and feeling of others and subsequently gain their support and enthusiasm.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 03:15:00 |
| No of Pages: | 40 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers and can form part of many communication and interpersonal skills programmes, such as coaching and mentoring skills, conflict management, counselling, influencing, and team development.
Download the training activity, Increasing sensitivity as featured in the Fenman training manual; Using Emotional Intelligence at Work