In the real world, it takes more than just the traditional definition of intelligence to make it in life. Emotional intelligence, also known as EQ, is regarded as a much better determinant of success. But what do our emotions have to do with our likelihood to achieve our goals? More so, what will the law enforcement profession gain from being in touch with their emotions? This session is the first installment of a 6-part webinar series that aims to deep dive into emotional intelligence and how it applies to the law enforcement field.

This course is led by Cheryl Stewart and Mike Brown. Cheryl is Director of Organizational Development with the Maryland Aviation Administration where she oversees performance management, learning, and employee development. She has over 20 years of experience as a communications and organizational development professional. Meanwhile, Mike is the National Sheriffs Association’s Director of Professional Development, conducting training sessions at the state, local, and federal levels. Mike is also a retired law enforcement professional.

This webinar provides a primer on Emotional Intelligence and discusses:

• The research conducted by Dr. Reuven Bar-on which guided the EQ-i 2.0 Model.
  • The working definition for emotional intelligence, and the model’s scope and limitations.
  • EQ as it relates to our choices and behavior and as a set of learnable skills that can help us upskill, grow, and develop both personally and professionally.
  • EQ as not a determinant of our intelligence, aptitude, vocational interest, likelihood to achieve, and personality.
• A video clip that demonstrated how emotional intelligence, or the lack thereof, plays out in the law enforcement profession and how it can impact the field’s reputation as a whole.
• The five composites of emotional intelligence and its subscales.
  • Self-perception that takes into account how we think of and see ourselves, our aspirations and goals, and our awareness of our emotions and why we feel a certain way.
  • Self-expression that tackles our capability to express and share our feelings, to assert our thoughts and stand up for our beliefs, and ability to function independently.
  • Interpersonal that considers our capacity to maintain healthy and balanced relationships, empathize with others’ needs and perspectives, and be driven by our role and purpose in society.
  • Decision making that examines our proficiency to solve problems effectively, assess situations objectively and realistically, and control impulsive response.
  • Stress management that looks into our ability to adapt and respond quickly to changing circumstances, handle stressful situations appropriately, and remain positive in the face of adversity.
• The concept of well-being and happiness that runs throughout the EQ-i 2.0 model that measures an individual’s ability to be satisfied and maintain equilibrium.
• An overview of the EQ-i 2.0 Model Assessment: The structure of the assessment, the scoring, and the implications of the assessment results.
• Juxtaposing the EQ-i 2.0 model with the Goleman Emotional Intelligence concepts and model.

Webinar participants clarified topics related to:

• Incorporating EQ during the recruitment process for criminal justice professions.
• The importance of the work that comes after the assessment in improving the individuals.
• Boosting an agency’s morale by paving an organizational culture that is rooted in emotional intelligence.
• Managing up and addressing the emotional needs and concerns of the people supervising you.
• Applying the EQ concepts of flexibility and adaptability to coping skills.
• Using EQ concepts in the juvenile justice field.
• Utilizing EQ assessment periodically as a means to gauge progress and a corrective action tool.
• Resources on the topic of emotional intelligence.

This is part of a six-part series:

• How EQ Can Make a Difference in Your Criminal Justice Career (this webinar)
• Emotional Intelligence: Using Self Perception and Self Awareness
• Emotional Intelligence: Understanding Stress Management and Flexibility
• April 15: Emotional Intelligence: Understanding Decision Making and Reality Testing
• May 20: Emotional Intelligence: Recognizing Interpersonal Skills and Empathy
• June 17: Emotional Intelligence: Learning more about Self Expression and Emotional Expression

Or click here to view and register for other upcoming NSA webinars on the JCH Platform.

Handouts and Resources

• Quiz
• Video played during webinar: Baltimore Police Officer
• Book: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
• Book: Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman
• OKA Emotional Intelligence
• Dr. Rueven Bar-On

Audience Comments

• “All of it was very valuable, I will be taking the whole series!” — Abigail
• “Information was very useful for the workplace especially when you’re in a leadership role serves as a reminder to understand the feelings of others.” — Angelica
• “I related EQ with empathy previously, and the information provided by Cheryl and Mike has made me understand that empathy is only a small part of EQ. I feel very optimistic about diving deeper into all areas of EQ in order to improve myself and my leadership skills. BIG THANKS to both Cheryl and Mike for sharing your knowledge.” — Amy
• “The breakdown of how EQ-I can help not only police officers but employees within the law enforcement community. This tool can reaffirm one’s confidence and possibly help others recognize the lack of empathy & pessimistic views that can occur as a result of the neverending juvenile cases.” — Marisol
• “I did not know that Emotional Intelligence had so many components to it. It is not a topic matter that was part of any of my psychology classes in college, so it was a very interesting/informative webinar. The presenters did a good job with the explanations and elaborations in layman’s terms so I could get a good handle and understanding of what EQ is. I hope that I will be able to attend the future EQ webinars in the next 5 months to learn more.” — Susan