The Challenge
A leading energy company focused on oil, gas, and renewable energy, was growing rapidly. Leaders on their engineering team were ready for the changes, but wanted to build a safe, supportive culture for their teams. Knowing how emotional intelligence (EI) supports safety and employee experience, the leaders aimed to implement a comprehensive emotional intelligence training program.
In particular, the team wanted to ensure their employees could remain calm and focused under stress. They also wanted to build stronger relationships and collaboration on the team. By building a culture of trust, they believed that employees would be more likely to share their concerns and find innovative solutions, especially around safety.
In addition, they wanted to improve the employee experience and increase retention on their teams. They knew people were struggling with work-life balance and the rapid changes of the organization. The leaders wanted to help them build resilience, motivation, focus, and collaboration.
The Approach
To address these challenges safety and employee experience, the engineering team worked with SIY Global to implement an emotional intelligence program.
The energy company rolled out the Search Inside Yourself program to more than 150 employees across all levels. The program focused primarily on self-awareness, stress management, and empathy building. The goal was to help employees understand their own emotions and those of others. With that understanding, they could choose a more effective action.
Participants in the program enjoyed a range of practical exercises, such as body scanning, journaling, and micro-meditations. They also connected with one another in interactive breakout sessions.
After the program, they also took away practical tools and mindfulness micro-practices to support emotional regulation in their day-to-day work.
The Impact
Key outcomes of the program included:
Safety
Employees were specially focused on learning how EI supports safety, enabling them to focus on the most important tasks ahead.
Participants reported a 16% increase in their ability to prioritize tasks without distraction. This improved focus and attention directly impacted safety outcomes, as employees were better able to remain alert, avoid mistakes, and identify potential hazards promptly.
Additionally, there was a 16% improvement in participants' ability to let go of negative thoughts. This helped them to reduce stress and improve decision-making under pressure.
Readiness for Energy Transition
The program resulted in a 13% increase in participants feeling more comfortable adapting to new challenges, highlighting their readiness for transition. This increase is crucial as the company rapidly transitions toward renewable energy.
Optimizing the Oil and Gas Portfolio
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Improvements in resilience and motivation had a direct impact on the company’s oil and gas operations. Post-program evaluations indicated a 19% increase in participants’ ability to handle difficult situations and recover from emotional challenges. In turn, this supported both individual well-being and team productivity. Additionally, there was a 23% increase in participants’ sense of meaning, which is critical to job satisfaction and engagement.
Application on the Job
Participants were able to transfer what they learned in the program to their jobs. 93% of participants said that what they learned was relevant to their current challenges.
Overall, the program proved to align with the company’s goals. The benefits extended to creating a workforce better equipped to face industry challenges with resilience, clarity, collaboration, and above all, safety. As a result of changes in their work culture, the company is better positioned to lead the industry in a rapid transition toward renewable energy while optimizing their existing oil and gas portfolio.
Learn more about SIY Global’s full program suite by visiting our programs page.