When we think of SEL or social and emotional learning, we often picture students learning about different self-awareness and stress management techniques in the classroom. Most people only see the “emotional” necessity of these skills. However, according to today’s executives, these abilities are proving to be essential “soft-skills” in the workplace. In a recent Forbes report, some of the top soft skills requested by companies are goal-setting, critical thinking, social awareness, accountability, and stress tolerance. Interestingly, these are the same attributes SEL teaches and targets. Coincidence? No.
Below, we reveal why top thought leaders in business are requesting these skills in the workplace. We also place a laser focus on the two SEL skills of self-management and resiliency and the latest research behind why these attributes are so important to employers, especially when finding the best talent.
What is Self-Management in SEL?
According to CASEL (The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), self-management is the ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and achieve goals and aspirations. This skill often includes managing stress, delaying gratification, and feeling the motivation to accomplish personal goals. A few examples of this skill include:
- Identifying and using stress management strategies.
- Demonstrating individual and collective agency.
- Exhibiting self-motivation.
- Using planning and organizational skills.
How are these skills transferred into the workplace? According to Glassdoor, with self-management skills, individuals can manage themselves to be more successful in their goal-setting efforts. Having these skills allows more control over their career, leading to more exciting opportunities. However, the benefits do not end there.
Self-Management in the Workplace
Once students learn self-management skills, such as demonstrating personal and collective agency, they can use these attributes at work by showing their reliability. Glassdoor explains, “Those without these skills may be unpredictable, which can make an employer nervous. For instance, when someone has a hard time controlling their emotions, they could snap at a customer. Through self-regulation, you can calm intense feelings and thoughts, which can lead to smarter actions.” Indeed reveals how mastering self-management can lead to strong workplace skills such as:
- Self-motivation
- Organization
- Stress management
- Accountability
- Time management
For example, having strong self-motivational skills in school will strengthen a students’ ability to take the initiative in a job and finish tasks they know should be completed. They can anticipate and plan for potential tasks needed to achieve more significant projects or solve ongoing issues. They become driven by the desire to succeed and not by outside factors. This skill allows them to become more productive in the workplace – ensuring forward progress with projects and other work activities.
The Research Behind Resiliency
Another example of the importance of self-management in the workplace is handling stress and demonstrating resiliency. Proactively managing workplace stressors allows individuals to focus on their goals, self-manage emotions, make steady progress, and maintain a professional attitude and demeanor in the workplace. Michael Fischer, vice president of global talent management for Sysco, tells Education Week that specific skills such as having a growth mindset and resilience is crucial in today’s workplace. He further expands on what these attributes should look like, including:
- The desire to continuously learn and recover from adversity and hardships. These skills build strength and a greater ability to cope.
- Taking ownership and accountability for your situation.
- Developing strategies for reflection and learning.
In the same Education Week article, Dr. Stuart Lustig, senior medical director at Cigna, states, “To build a more resilient future workforce and generation, today’s students must have the support, resources, and personal skills they need to continue to build that muscle.” Cigna has been researching resilience, and their findings suggest real costs associated with low levels of this skill. For example, low resilience in students is connected to higher rates of stress and anxiety, worse physical health, feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth, and unsatisfactory academic performance. In the workforce, low resilience results in lower productivity and professional ambition, lower engagement with colleagues, and higher turnover.
As Lustig states, “Resilience is like a muscle that can be strengthened throughout a person’s life. Parents, coaches, and teachers play a critical role by encouraging resilience-building factors such as practicing good mental and physical health, staying active, practicing stress-reduction activities, fostering inclusivity, building connections through two-way conversation, and being surrounded by a diverse community. Our research shows all these things can help young people and adults develop their resilience skill set.” Mastering SEL skills is a lifelong process; however, giving students the chance to learn these abilities early can be the key to preparing teens for life after high school and future workplace success.
