Emotional and Relational Intelligence Are the Real Curriculum

How are emotional (feelings management) and relational (connection abilities) skills taught and modeled in your team culture?

In early childhood education, we talk a lot about emotional development in children. But what about emotional and relational intelligence within our teams, and especially our new hires?

New staff need more than policies and schedules—they need models of emotional safety, co-regulation, and authentic communication. This is especially true in the first weeks, when nervous systems are on high alert and everything feels unfamiliar.

Integrating emotional and relational intelligence into onboarding means:

• Modeling "I" statements and open feedback

• Acknowledging emotions and checking in often

• Helping new team members reflect on their stress levels, boundaries, and communication styles

• Normalizing mistakes, repair, and growth

Strategies to Try:

• Practice daily emotional check-ins during onboarding.

• Use simple reflection tools like mood meters or feeling thermometers.

• Schedule guided conversations around team values, communication, and stress responses.

Interested in building your team's relational capacity? I offer PD rooted in emotional intelligence, co-regulation, and psychological safety. Contact me at deidre.harris@teamagreements.com to bring this work to your team.