Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2023)

Training Tips for Ships

Tip #54

Enhancing Maritime Ops Through

Emotional Intelligence Training

By Murray Goldberg, CEO, Marine Learning Systems n the maritime industry, where safety and ef? ciency must management and self-regulation among crew members. This always remain goals #1 and #2, it might seem odd to be is particularly important in high-pressure situations where reading an article discussing the importance of emotion- clear-headed decisions are crucial for safety. A crew that can

Ial intelligence (EI) in mariner training. In fact, it is not manage their emotions effectively is less likely to make errors the topic which ? rst comes to mind for me as a developer of that could lead to accidents or incidents.

maritime enterprise training and compliance platforms. But it A high EI can also enable improved teamwork and commu- should be. The fact that it is typically not top of mind for most nication. Training in EI can improve interpersonal skills, lead- of us in the maritime industry is a problem because enhancing ing to better collaboration and understanding among diverse

EI across all levels in maritime organizations can lead to im- crew members. This is especially important in the multicul- provements in operations, safety, and workplace culture. Let’s tural and multilingual context of maritime operations. Clear- discuss what we mean by emotional intelligence, why it is a er, less emotionally charged communication is also critical in critically important skill, and how training for it could pos- times of stress or danger. The bene? ts of this in dif? cult times sibly generate one of the highest returns on our training dollar cannot be understated.

investment. So ? rst, what is EI? High EI will also result in increased crew retention and job

Emotional Intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to recog- satisfaction. Working in the maritime industry can be chal- nize, understand, manage, and utilize one’s own emotions and lenging, with long periods away from family and a demand- those of others effectively. It is demonstrated by the effective ing work environment. EI training can equip employees with use of interpersonal skills that govern how people perceive, better coping mechanisms. It can also make all interactions process, and react to the emotional aspects of interactions with among of? cers and crew more supportive and less adversarial. others. Individuals with high EI are able to identify and un- This all leads to a far happier and healthier work environment derstand not only their own emotions but also the emotions - which produces increased job satisfaction and lower turn- of those around them. This ability enables them to respond to over rates. emotional cues appropriately and to form connections with And ? nally, high EI is especially important for of? cers. others based on empathy and understanding. Leaders with high EI are more effective in managing their

One key component of EI is the ability to regulate one’s teams, successfully conducting dif? cult conversations, re- own emotions. This self-regulation is crucial for decision- solving con? icts, and motivating crew members. This all di- making, stress management, and communication - all of rectly impacts the work environment, the cohesiveness of the which impact personal and professional relationships. Emo- crew, the respect for authority, and the operational ef? ciency tional intelligence also includes skills such as empathy, social of the vessel.

awareness, and the ability to navigate complex social situa- Training all maritime employees in emotional intelligence tions, which are important for collaboration and teamwork. In is not just bene? cial, it is a necessity in the modern maritime essence, EI is not just about emotional awareness; it’s about landscape. By focusing on EI, vessel owners and operators using that awareness to guide one’s thinking and actions, lead- can create a more resilient, ef? cient, and safe working envi- ing to more effective interactions with others. This is all espe- ronment. This approach to training equips crew with the emo- cially important in the maritime sector because of the sector’s tional and social skills needed to excel in their roles. It is the many unique and challenging realities including the presence lever that makes their other training all that much more effec- of stress, multicultural crews, and long periods away from tive. As the maritime industry and the world around it contin- home. Let’s look at some of the bene? ts that can be derived ue to evolve, an emphasis on emotional intelligence training by of? cers and crew with high EI abilities. will undoubtedly become a key component of how we attract

One of the core bene? ts of a high EI is improved safety excellent crew and maintain safe and performant operations. and reduced Incidents. Enhanced EI can lead to better stress Thanks for reading and until next time, sail safely!

8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • December 2023

MR #12 (1-17).indd 8 12/5/2023 9:47:16 AM