Trust Point Young Professionals (TPYP) met in La Crosse on Monday, October 14th for their fourth quarter 2024 event. The event began with volunteering for a local organization, Aptiv, Inc., which provides services for individuals with disabilities. Following the volunteering portion of the day, TPYP members along with a number of client-facing staff not part of the TPYP group learned dining tips from etiquette dining instructor, Janie Morgan.
The primary development activity for the day was focused on Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence is defined as “the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions, and to understand and respond to the emotions of others.” The group learned about the pillars of Emotional Intelligence, which are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The session then led to the benefits of improved emotional intelligence such as improved communication, stronger relationships with peers, and improved performance.
Questions were posed as to how Emotional Intelligence plays a role in our work relationships and work environment. Specifically, what challenges do we face with regard to Emotional Intelligence? What tools do we use to overcome the challenges we face?
TPYP members formed into groups, with representation from the various departments within Trust Point in each group. The groups created good discussions, specifically answering the questions of 1) how emotionally intelligent do we see ourselves? and 2) what situations arise in our daily work that can challenge our emotional intelligence?
Groups worked amongst themselves to develop solutions to each other’s situations from an outsider’s point of view. By working together on these solutions, group members gained insight into the challenges of each department at Trust Point. A benefit from the activity is that moving forward, team members will all consider more empathy as a reaction to unexpected situations.
To round out the day, the group celebrated Brandon Hellenbrand as he graduated from the Young Professionals this year. Brandon was one of the founding members of TPYP and completed a unique project during his final year. Thank you, Brandon, for all your contributions to TPYP.