Emotional Intelligence and Diversity: What it Means for Success at Work

Robert Amelio

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Materials by:

Objectives

1. Increase awareness of Emotional Intelligence (EI).

2. Demonstrate connection between EI and diversity (EID).

3. Offer framework for EID as tool to enhance effectiveness at work.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is:

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN A DIVERSE WORLD

• the awareness of how emotions influence behavior, both in oneself and others

• the ability to manage one’s emotions effectively.

A working definition:

Four Layers of Diversity

Functional Level/Classification

ManagementStatus

UnionAffiliation

PERSONALITY

WorkLocation Division/Department

Unit/Group

Seniority

WorkContent/

Field

EducationalBackground

WorkExperience

Appearance

ParentalStatus

MaritalStatus

GeographicLocation

Income

PersonalHabits

RecreationalHabits

Religion

Age

RaceGender

EthnicitySexual

Orientation

PhysicalAbility

Internal Dimensions and External Dimensions are adapted from Marilyn Loden and Judy Rosener, Workforce America! (Business One Irwin, 1991)

From Diverse Teams at Work, Gardenswartz & Rowe (2nd Edition, SHRM, 2003)

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & DIVERSITY

SELF OTHERS

INSIGHT

ACTION

AFFIRMATIVE

INTROSPECTION

SELF

GOVERNANCE

INTERCULTURAL

LITERACY

SOCIAL

ARCHITECTING

How curious am I

about who I am and what makes

me tick?

How able am I to see myself and

my biases honestly and

without judgment?

AFFIRMATIVE INTROSPECTION

How do I deal with

uncertainty?

When am I in control of

my emotions and when

do my emotions control me?

SELF-GOVERNANCE

INTERCULTURAL LITERACY

How good am I at identifying the ways culture shapes behavior?

How do I understand and find value in norms different from my own?

SOCIAL ARCHITECTING

How do I help create the glue in my environments?

How do I reframe different realities to help others create understanding and respect?

BUILDING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEAND DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS

ORGANIZATION

TEAM

INDIVIDUAL