EQ Skills and Strategies: Bridging Differences Across Perspectives

Course Description

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is more than a relational skill – it’s a strategic advantage in today’s fast-paced, collaborative work environments. The ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions, both our own and those of others, is essential for building trust, enhancing communication, and fostering resilient, high-performing teams.

This workshop explores two key EQ elements: Interpersonal Relationships and Decision-Making, with a focus on how to invite, understand, and integrate varying perspectives and experiences. Participants will learn how perspective-taking and perspective-getting are essential for expansive collaboration, creative problem-solving and navigating complexity with empathy and clarity.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Explore the modes of cognitive empathy through the practices of perspective-taking (imagining others’ viewpoints) and perspective-getting (actively seeking others’ input) as tools for innovation, collaboration, and belonging.
• Apply both/and thinking to recognize and integrate multiple realities and viewpoints across teams and situations.
• Understand what a polarity is and how to identify and navigate polarities by finding a “Third Way.”

Who should Participate?

All UW–Madison employees, regardless of role or scope of work.

Register

• Courses starting before July 2026
• Courses starting on or after July 1, 2026