Applying Emotional Intelligence to De-Escalation

Growing evidence suggests emotional intelligence (EQ) is a factor in predicting work performance that involves regular interpersonal contact with people—the cornerstone of the law enforcement profession. Emotions are central in every relationship aspect our lives, including family, friendships, and the workplace. Managed proactively and effectively, emotions can guide and direct our thinking to include actions that are realistic and appropriate—even saving our lives. Unmanaged, emotions can “hijack” reasoning and logic, contributing to responses we may subsequently regret. Unmanaged, they may also derail efforts to successfully de-escalate and defuse potential life-threatening interactions with disenfranchised citizens.

To more effectively protect and serve the public, law enforcement officers have an obligation to learn to appropriately monitor their own and other’s emotions and use this knowledge to guide their thinking, actions, and decision making.

This course is about law enforcement officers understanding what tools are at their disposal to combat the current social contempt toward policing, applying emotional intelligence concepts in concert with de-escalation skills for conflict management. This course will provide pre-recorded lectures on Emotional Intelligence, Duty to Interpose and De-Escalation to enhance to enhance and support a service culture and provide de-escalation techniques so as to reduce public criticism and judgement of law enforcement. The workshop will include the Saboteurs, DISC and EQ-i 2.0 assessment tools to increase self-awareness, understanding and control.