Emotional intelligence is a core competency that we should all explore to foster stronger bonds as a community. By being mindful of the moment, now, we’re better-prepared to sense emotions within. Through self-awareness, we can harness a shared power to work together more efficiently. Being more aware of ourselves through emotional intelligence, we can shape our perceptions and become a more mindful participant in the design process. (Presentation given at http://chicagocamps.org/events/2018/ux-camp-fall/#garrett-polifka)

1. EQ + DESIGN;
ELEVATING THE DESIGN PROCESS
@GARRETTPOLIFKA

2. Breathe in and out
3X = 6 Seconds

3. 381,876 GB
of Internet traffic
Example from 10/30/2018, 9:39pm http://www.internetlivestats.com/one-second/ Photo by sergio souza on Unsplash

4. The impact of a single breath

5. “Learning to calm the mind starts with being more mindful of the body.”
–Chade-Meng Tan
https://hbr.org/2015/12/just-6-seconds-of-mindfulness-can-make-you-more-effective
The impact of a single breath

6. “…breaths taken mindfully tend to be slow and deep, which
stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic
nervous system.”
–Chade-Meng Tan
https://hbr.org/2015/12/just-6-seconds-of-mindfulness-can-make-you-more-effective
The impact of a single breath

7. Functions to regulate the body's unconscious actions
Two main divisions
Stress activates the Sympathetic Nervous System
Renewal is activated by the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Coursera, Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence Case Western Reserve University lead by Richard Boyatzis
Autonomic Nervous System

8. Parasympathetic Nervous System
Invokes Renewal
The body rebuilds itself neurological
Possible growth of new neural tissue
Engages your immune system
More open to new ideas, emotions, other people (especially if they
are different), and new possibilities, learning, adaptation and change.
Coursera, Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence Case Western Reserve University lead by Richard Boyatzis

9. Parasympathetic Nervous System
Invokes Renewal
The body rebuilds itself neurological
Possible growth of new neural tissue
Engages your immune system
More open to new ideas, emotions, other people (especially if they are
different), and new possibilities, learning, adaptation and change.
Coursera, Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence Case Western Reserve University lead by Richard Boyatzis

10. Breathe in and out
3X = 6 Seconds

11. Emotional Intelligence
Photo by Matthew Cabret on Unsplash

12. Emotional Intelligence
Self-Awareness
Self-Regulation
Motivation
Empathy
Social Skills
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, written by Daniel Goleman

13. “By bringing mindful attention to the body, you strengthen the
part of your brain called the insula, which is highly correlated
with strong emotional awareness and empathy.”
–Chade-Meng Tan
https://hbr.org/2015/12/just-6-seconds-of-mindfulness-can-make-you-more-effective
Emotional Intelligence

14. “When combined with practices such as journaling, this
improves self-assessment, and when combined with practices
such as mindful listening, it strengthens empathy, all of which
lead to higher emotional intelligence.”
–Chade-Meng Tan
https://hbr.org/2015/12/just-6-seconds-of-mindfulness-can-make-you-more-effective
Emotional Intelligence

15. Self-Awareness
Photo by Ana Tavares on Unsplash

16. “Self-awareness is the capacity to know what is happening within yourself.”
– Fred Kofman
https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Business-Build-through-Values/dp/1622032020
Self-Awareness

17. “Awareness is at the foundation of freedom and responsibility; it
is the basic tool for managing emotions and actions.”
– Fred Kofman
https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Business-Build-through-Values/dp/1622032020
Self-Awareness

18. “We then focus on developing a depth of self-knowledge that leads to
self-mastery, because when you can clearly and objectively see when
and how you are triggered, you can begin to effectively deploy mental
and emotional strategies to skillfully navigate those situations.”
–Chade-Meng Tan
https://hbr.org/2015/12/just-6-seconds-of-mindfulness-can-make-you-more-effective
Self-Awareness

19. Empathy
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

20. “To develop empathy, start by simply thinking about other people's
viewpoints. Imagine how they may be feeling, and use active listening
skills to understand them fully when they express their emotions to you.”
– The Mind Tools Content Team
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ei-quiz.htm
Empathy

21. “..represents an ability to accurately perceive and relate to the
emotions of another, be they positive or negative.”
– Richard E. Boyatzis, Melvin L. Smith, Alim J. Beveridge
Coaching With Compassion: Inspiring Health, WellBeing, and Development in Organizations by Richard E. Boyatzis,
Melvin L. Smith, and Alim J. Beveridge
Empathy

22. The collaboration of multiple humans

23. “We cannot improve our emotional intelligence or change our
leadership style without help from others.”
– Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, and Annie McKee
https://hbr.org/2001/12/primal-leadership-the-hidden-driver-of-great-performance
The collaboration of multiple humans

24. “Our experiences are significant because our minds are
constantly interpreting our perceptions.”
– Fred Kofman
https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Business-Build-through-Values/dp/1622032020
The collaboration of multiple humans

25. “We experience reality indirectly because we are always
deleting, distorting and generalizing. We view our representation
of the experience of the territory, not the territory itself”
– Jason Edleman
https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/emotional-intelligence-introduction
The collaboration of multiple humans

26. “Everything turns on your assumptions about it, and that’s on you. You
can pluck out the hasty judgment at will, and like steering a ship
around the point, you will find calm seas, fair weather and a safe port.”
– Marcus Aurelius
https://twitter.com/dailystoic/status/963143924150865926
The collaboration of multiple humans

27. The next time you find yourself engaging in the design process
Perceive
Recognize when someone’s mindset is preventing them from doing
their best work
It’s your choice
Dan Brown, UI21 https://aycl.uie.com/virtual_seminars/collaborative_design_discovery_four_essential_techniques

28. The next time you find yourself engaging in the design process
Understand
Adopt behaviors that help you and your team to reach a shared
understanding of the design problem, context, and direction
It’s your choice
Dan Brown, UI21 https://aycl.uie.com/virtual_seminars/collaborative_design_discovery_four_essential_techniques

29. The next time you find yourself engaging in the design process
Choose
Wait, do not act impulsively
It’s your choice
Dan Brown, UI21 https://aycl.uie.com/virtual_seminars/collaborative_design_discovery_four_essential_techniques

30. The next time you find yourself engaging in the design process
Look inside
Take a moment and feel the emotion to better choose your next
step
It’s your choice
Dan Brown, UI21 https://aycl.uie.com/virtual_seminars/collaborative_design_discovery_four_essential_techniques

31. Meditation
Mindful Breathing
Yoga
Active Listening
Introspection
Practical Application

32. Breathe in and out
3X = 6 Seconds

33. THANK YOU!
Q&A
“Take a breath and look around
See the sights and hear the sounds
Feel the ground
Notice there’s a reason that you’re in the now”
–@INQLIFE
FUEL: CREATIVITY A poem about superpowers. https://content.lifeisgood.com/fuel-creativity/
ELEVATING THE DESIGN PROCESS
@GARRETTPOLIFKA