Social Intelligence

Overview

What is social intelligence?

Social intelligence is being a role model and facilitator of psychologically safe interactions among everyone in the workplace, including those who are marginalized or vulnerable.

How does social intelligence contribute to psychologically safe leadership?

There are many benefits to having people leaders effectively trained in social intelligence:

  • Work stressors and challenges don’t have to lead to time off when effectively addressed and managed.
  • Workers with mental health challenges will ask for help sooner.
  • Workers are more likely to treat coworkers, customers and clients with respect.
  • Productivity can be maintained and even improve during times of high demand.
  • Worker engagement and satisfaction increases.

FAQs

  • Listen, without interrupting. Thank them for trusting you and remind them they’re not alone. Keep the information shared confidential. If you must share information (for example, for a worker in a safety-sensitive job) let them know what you will share, with who and why.
  • Ask workers how you can best support them and what their immediate needs are – at work and personally (if/as appropriate).
  • Know the available mental health resources at your workplace, as well as external community supports. Share this information with the worker.
  • Check in regularly with workers.

  • Use kind, civil and respectful, words. However, nonverbal communication is often much more important than our specific words when supporting someone who is distressed. Learn more about effective verbal vs. non-verbal communication.
  • Consider times when you have been distressed and felt supported by another. Rarely is it ‘perfect words’ from another that helpsmost. Rather, the presence of someone who listens intently, is empathetic and does not judge or assume is what is most helpful.
  • Ask them directly what you can do and how you can best help and support.
  • There are many helpful resources on trauma informed care. Consider attending a webinar or short course to help you feel more prepared (such as Trauma Informed Care Training and Workshops – CTRI).

Action

Next steps: Committing to enhancing social intelligence as a leader

We invite you to complete the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment (PSLA) to learn more about your current leadership skills with respect to social intelligence. By completing this confidential self-assessment, you can identify key areas to improve your psychologically safe leadership skills.

The following tips can help you improve and expand your social intelligence skills:

  • Create your own mental health resource list (of internal organizational supports and external community supports).
  • Identify and understand how your reactions impact others, and how other people’s emotions impact you.
  • Enhance your skills in managing stress, self-regulating and managing frustration and anger.
  • Communicate to workers your availability to talk (open door) and where they can reach out to you if they are experiencing difficulties or challenges, at work or otherwise.
  • Review and consider implementing an anti-stigma campaign, such as Not Myself Today.
  • Ask specific questions to gather ideas on how to build a great team experience.
  • Invite solutions from your team on challenges.
  • Improve your verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
  • Work on strengthening relationships with and among your team.
  • Provide supportive performance management focused on solutions and enhancing worker success.
  • Help workers navigate change by clearly communicating what’s coming and asking how you can support them.
  • Hold team discussions to gather ideas on how to improve worker engagement. Use these as an opportunity to model good interpersonal skills.
  • Facilitate team discussions about difficult and challenging issues. Use examples about internal teams and with clients.