This workshop will address broad concepts related to emotional intelligence with direct practical application to relationships with coworkers and with those served by the institution. Special attention and focus will be on working with individuals and families who have been impacted by generational poverty. The overall concept is that if we better understand our own reactions to what we see in front of us in terms of the attitudes and actions of others, we will be better able to move beyond initial impressions, often leading to judgment, and work toward understanding and building effective and supportive relationships that will ultimately improve outcomes and reduce work-related stress.

1. Participants will increase their knowledge of the social learning and neurological underpinnings of their own and others’ emotional reactions to stress.
2. Participants will have a framework for understanding behaviors in others that they find challenging.
3. Participants will have at least three specific actions they can take to improve their own emotional intelligence.
4. Participants will gain communication skills for work with clients/customers from different backgrounds.