From Soloists to Symphony: Emotional Intelligence as the Foundation of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

Date: Friday, 25 September 2026 | Time: 1445 - 1615 | Venue: Whitespace, Academia (SGH Campus)

Track Type: Workshop

Speaker(s):

Overview:

In today’s high-stakes healthcare environment, clinical expertise alone is insufficient to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Effective care increasingly depends on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP), where professionals from diverse work together as a cohesive team. However, the most significant barriers to IPCP are often relational rather than technical, arising from challenges in communication, emotional awareness, and interpersonal dynamics.

This interactive workshop explores Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a critical enabler of effective interprofessional collaboration. Participants will examine how core EI competencies – including self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and social skills – support trust, psychological safety, and shared decision-making within healthcare teams. Moving beyond the theoretical discussion of teamwork, the workshop focus on practical strategies to address complex interpersonal challenges in real-world clinical settings to master skills that solve "hard problems" in clinical settings.

Through experiential activities, guided reflection, and case-based discussions, participants will develop actionable skills to strengthen collaboration, manage emotionally charged situations, and enhance patient-centred interprofessional practice.

Learning Outcome(s):

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
· Define and apply core principles of IPCP in clinical and educational settings
· Explain and apply the key principles of Emotional Intelligence relevant to interprofessional collaborative practice.
· Identify and analyse how emotional self-regulation and empathy enhance team communication and support conflict resolution.
· Develop a personalised action plan to apply emotional intelligence strategies within interprofessional collaborative practice

Target Audience:

Healthcare students, pre-registered and practising healthcare professionals (medical, nursing, and allied health), and administrative and operational staff working collaboratively to support patient care.