3.3 Five Social-Emotional Learning Competencies

SEL programs typically emphasize five fundamental competencies:

1. Self-awareness: Self-awareness is the ability to understand and recognize your own emotions, strengths, limitations, values, and goals. It involves being in tune with your mental and emotional states, understanding how your emotions impact your actions, and knowing your strengths and weaknesses.   Example: Imagine you have a big presentation at work, and you start feeling anxious and nervous. If you are self-aware, you will recognize these emotions, understand that they might be influencing your behaviour, and take steps to address them. You might realize that public speaking is a challenge for you (a limitation), but you also know that you are well-prepared for the presentation (a strength).
2. Self-Management: Self-management involves controlling your emotions, behaviours, and thoughts in different situations. It includes skills like handling stress, resisting impulsive reactions, staying motivated, and setting and achieving goals. Essentially, it’s about taking charge of your thoughts and actions. Example: Let’s say you have a challenging project at work with a tight deadline, and you’re feeling overwhelmed. If you have strong self-management skills, you will recognize your stress and take steps to manage it. Instead of panicking, you might create a to-do list, prioritize tasks, and break down the project into smaller, more manageable steps. In this situation, self-management also involves impulse control. Instead of reacting impulsively to the stress by procrastinating or getting frustrated, you take a moment to breathe and stay focused on the tasks at hand.
3. Social Awareness: Social awareness is the ability to understand and connect with others by empathizing, recognizing diverse perspectives, and understanding social cues and norms. It involves acting with empathy and integrity in various social situations, respecting and acknowledging the diversity of backgrounds and cultures around you.  Example: Imagine you’re in a team meeting at work, and a colleague expresses an idea that you initially find unusual or different from your perspective. If you have social awareness, you would pause to consider their viewpoint, trying to understand it from their perspective. You might think about their background, experiences, and the context in which they’re presenting the idea. In this situation, social awareness goes beyond just recognizing diverse perspectives; it involves empathizing with your colleague’s viewpoint. Instead of dismissing their idea, you acknowledge and validate their perspective, creating an environment of respect. This not only fosters healthy relationships within the team but also contributes to a more inclusive and collaborative work culture. Social awareness also means being attuned to social cues and norms. For instance, if someone in the meeting seems uncomfortable or disagrees with the discussion, you pick up on those cues and adjust your communication to ensure a respectful and inclusive atmosphere.
4. Relationship Skills: Relationship skills involve creating and sustaining healthy connections with others. This competency emphasizes effective communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. It’s about forming positive relationships across diverse backgrounds, listening actively, and working well in groups. Example: Imagine you’re working on a group project for school, and there’s a difference of opinion on how to approach a particular task. If you have strong relationship skills, you will engage in effective communication by expressing your ideas clearly and listening to your teammates’ perspectives. In this scenario, cooperation is essential. Instead of insisting on your approach, you find common ground by incorporating various ideas into a cohesive plan that benefits everyone. This not only demonstrates your ability to work collaboratively but also contributes to a positive group dynamic. Conflict resolution is another aspect of relationship skills. Suppose a disagreement arises among team members about the project’s direction. In this case, your ability to address the conflict calmly, listen to others’ concerns, and find a compromise illustrates strong relationship skills. Moreover, problem-solving is integral to maintaining healthy relationships. When challenges arise during the project, your capacity to work together to find solutions ensures that the group stays focused and progresses toward its goals. In summary, relationship skills involve effective communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. These skills empower individuals, such as students working on group projects, to navigate challenges collaboratively, fostering a positive and productive environment.
5. Responsible Decision-Making: Responsible decision-making is about making good choices that are ethical and beneficial for both yourself and others. It involves critical thinking, open-mindedness, judgment, problem-solving, and considering the consequences of your actions on personal and social well-being.   Example: Let’s say you and your friends are planning a gathering, and there’s a disagreement about where to host it. If you’re using responsible decision-making, you would consider different perspectives and weigh the options critically. You might think about factors such as convenience for everyone, the capacity of the venue, and the potential impact on neighbours. Open-mindedness comes into play as you listen to your friends’ opinions, even if they differ from your own. With good judgment, you decide on a location that accommodates everyone, minimizes disruptions, and ensures a positive experience for all attendees. This involves problem-solving – finding a solution that meets everyone’s needs. Crucially, responsible decision-making also includes thinking about the consequences. You consider how your choice will affect the well-being of the group, the venue, and the neighbours. Opting for a responsible decision led to a positive outcome for the gathering and maintained a harmonious social environment. In summary, responsible decision-making involves considering ethical and constructive choices, thinking critically, being open-minded, using good judgment, solving problems, and reflecting on the consequences of your actions to achieve positive outcomes for both yourself and others.