TECC 309: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Construction Industry

In this episode, we talk with Erin Thorp, a highly accomplished civil engineer, keynote speaker, writer, and coach, about how to approach tough conversations with emotional intelligence in both your personal and professional life. The video version of this episode can be viewed here. Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Construction Industry: Women in construction are often told that they are too emotional. However, emotions are a normal part of being human and can be a strength in the workplace. By understanding your emotions and how they affect you, you can learn to use them to your advantage. You can also learn to be more understanding of the emotions of others. Emotional suppression and overly emotional responses can be a problem in the workplace. They can lead to poor decision-making and communication. One way to address this problem is to teach people how to manage their emotions. Empathy is a powerful skill that can help us to build better relationships and make better decisions. By teaching people how to be more empathetic, we can create a more productive and positive workplace. People who struggle with difficult conversations can build confidence by practicing with someone they trust and by understanding what triggers them emotionally. By anticipating and understanding their own emotions, people can better manage difficult conversations and avoid getting triggered themselves. Difficult conversations can be stressful and emotional, but it is important to be prepared. By practicing emotional intelligence, regulation, and awareness, you can better manage your own emotions and be more effective in the conversation. It is also important to try to understand the other person's perspective and why they may be feeling the way they are. By doing this, you can have a more productive and respectful conversation. When giving feedback, it is important to state your intention upfront. This will help the other person understand your motivation for giving the feedback and why you are sharing it. It will also help to reduce the chances of the feedback being misunderstood. Engineering teams can create a more inclusive and productive culture by balancing logic and emotion. Logic is important for solving technical problems, while emotion is important for addressing personal and cultural issues. By finding a balance between the two, teams can make better decisions and create a more welcoming environment for everyone. Maintaining mental and emotional intelligence is an ongoing practice that can be supported by daily check-ins, breathwork, walking, and disconnecting from technology. By sitting with uncomfortable emotions and asking ourselves what they are trying to tell us, we can move through them more quickly. More in This Episode… In the Take Action Today segment of the show, Erin talks about how you can prepare for a conversation that you know you must have. About the Guest, Erin Thorp Erin Thorp is an empathic keynote speaker, writer, and coach for leaders who struggle with conflict, communication, and performance during high-stress times. She supports leaders in navigating difficult conversations, building powerful teams, and communicating with empathy so they can lead confidently. Having spent 20 years in the masculine-dominated engineering and construction industries leading teams and delivering projects, Erin had taken notice that her colleagues were highly skilled and cared deeply about their work, but most were incapable of fully holding their own emotions and, therefore, unable to hold the emotions of others. After being told time and time again she was “too emotional” and to “pull herself together,” she realized there was a big gap in what was being taught to technica...