Join hosts Merv Jersak and Tim Jerome as they offer practical tips, tools and techniques to help you develop and strengthen key aspects of emotional intelligence, namely self-awareness and self-control/self-regulation. The cover such tried and true tips such as journaling, listening to those close to us, and practicing stress management techniques. They discuss tools such as personality assessments and emphasize the importance of continuous learning, maintaining regular breaks, and ensuring physical exercise and adequate sleep. The conversation aims to help project managers enhance their emotional quotient and translate that into more successful project delivery.

Main Take-Aways

Tips, tools, and techniques that project leaders can utilize to help them become more self-aware and develop self-control/self-regulation:

1)     perform a self-assessment

2)     journal

3)     pay attention to feedback

4)     consider requesting a 360-degree feedback

5)     practice self-regulation before implementing

6)     consider using personality assessment/self-discovery tools

7)     continue self-learning

8)     be an active listener

9)     be self-reflective when warranted

10)  handle your stress

11)  exercise and get enough sleep

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Strengthen Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation

00:27 Introducing tips, tools, and techniques for the inner-focused emotional intelligence traits of self-awareness and self-control/self-regulation.

01:05 Tim begins by recommending that you perform a self-assessment – no judgment – just an awareness of your own emotions and emotional triggers.

01:53 Tim and Merv both advise journaling for self-reflection and the benefits that brings.

03:47 Merv advises you to pay attention to feedback from those closest to you and who have your interests in mind.

05:06 Merv goes on to describe a 360-degree feedback tool, whereby you receive feedback from supervisors, peers, and subordinates. Combining the feedback from several partied allows you to understand yourself better.

07:09 Tim strongly recommends practicing self-regulation techniques before implementing them in your project management activities.

 08:34 Merv suggests that you also consider personality assessments and self-discovery tools such as Myers-Briggs, DISC, Strengths-Finder, etc. to help in your self-awareness quest.

10:00 Tim reminds you not to try everything that we are discussing all at once.

10:39 Merv recommends the book, “Working With Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman as an excellent resource to understand the subject area of emotional intelligence more completely. Continuous learning is a necessity for the project manager who wants to succeed.

11:48 Merv and Tim then exchange ideas regarding active listening, discipline, time management, prioritization, setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, and continuous improvement.

13:36 Merv raises the idea of navel gazing or self-reflection to concentrate on becoming more self-aware.

15:23 Merv then adds the need to deal with the stress that comes with the job as a project manager: breathing exercises, visualization techniques, downtime.

18:59 Merv advises that you continue an exercise regime and get enough sleep.