Francesca Schuler on Building EQ Habits for Student Success

How can you build the skills and habits around empathy and emotional intelligence to elevate students' EQ so that they can be effective, inspiring leaders and people who can just get stuff done and move things forward? What are the habits and norms from phones and social media that we all have to unlearn to do this? How does this help students show up differently in school, work, and life? We talk through these questions with Francesca Schuler, Executive Director of Dialogue Vanderbilt. Episode Highlights include: [04:49] The High IQ vs. High EQ Balance - Francesca explains how leadership is defined by the ability to navigate diverse opinions and why elite students need to balance their intelligence with emotional dialogue habits. [10:14] Unlearning Digital Communication Habits - A look at how technology and social media have trained us to react with "hot takes" and performative emojis instead of engaging in authentic, nuanced conversation. [12:12] Listening to Learn vs. Listening to Win - Schuler breaks down practical daily habits, such as asking with curiosity and assuming goodwill, to overcome the polarization currently seen in society. [14:45] The Power of Tech-Free Spaces - The success of the "Vandy Speakeasy" program illustrates how creating a "third place" without phones can foster deep, two-hour-long multi-generational conversations. [26:58] Rebranding "Soft Skills" as "Essential Skills" - A final call to action to treat emotional intelligence as a critical, non-optional requirement for success in both the classroom and the professional workplace.