Emotional intelligence (EI) is an essential skill for everyone.
It encompasses the ability to understand, use, and manage our emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathise with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict.
In training and assessment it is the number one skill we hire for at KKTC.
In this article we unpack the importance of Emotional intelligence in our Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector.
Understanding Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence involves a few key capabilities: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. These elements translate into how we understand our own emotions and those of others.
At KKTC we see a Trainer and Assessor as a coach.
And like sporting coaches where you will have a team of mixed personalities and capabilities, the role of a Trainer and Assessor is to connect and develop these individuals’ pedagogical capabilities; BUT almost as equally important is leaving an indelible mark on their lives from the experience of being mentored.
For many of our students it is their first time in higher education and it could well be the first time that they have had a mentor.
Hiring for Personality Types
When hiring we are looking for personality types and exploring through questioning past behaviours that would illustrate a capacity to be an exceptional mentor.
CEO and Managing Director, Sam Hendry said this week “Hiring Trainers and Assessors that meet the ‘mentoring test’ is a top priority when we hire. Not everyone has the EI to transition from a Centre Manager, 2IC or Educational Leader of a long day care service to be a Trainer and Assessor with high end mentoring skills.”
“For every candidate I speak with – I know before they attend the interview that they will have the childcare experience – this is a given. But can they lead and mentor a cohort of students from different backgrounds, different learning styles, motivations ….”
KKTC’s student cohort is often return to workers, sea changers, formerly COVID displaced workers, semi term unemployed or school leavers. For many the challenge and discipline of training in their CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is new territory and adult learning can be lonely.
KKTC prides itself however on personalised service and Trainers and Assessors having a genuine ‘care factor’ for their students.
“We don’t lose site of the ‘CARE’ in our course offering name and it is a holistic theme of how we support our students. Caring for the students who choose KKTC and giving them every chance of success is a priority. We walk the talk on this care by committing to doing on the job visits every 3 weeks to assess competency and making it a brand promise to be there when they need us.”
“This can be that return call same day, the extra study session or just being someone to talk with about their career choices and some guidance along the way.”
Creating an Impression for Life
“Emotional intelligence is so important as often it is our Trainers and Assessors that will be the first person a student calls when something significant is happening in their life. We want to ensure we pick up that call or address that email when it comes in and we want that conversation to be supportive, empathetic and if needed ‘firm but fair’ if the student needs to take ownership relating to their effort levels with the training,” Sam said.
Sam concluded “We all need a dose of accountability at some stage as life is not easy. If our Trainers and Assessors can help their students become more resilient, more confident and take ownership of issues (that they have control over), then they have possibly made an impression and that can last a lifetime.”
Interested in working with KKTC? Apply for a Trainer and Assessor role with KKTC today.
