Decision making for the future - making social and emotional learning stick in government

Decision makers in government face high pressure and high stakes situations almost daily to ensure they address the needs of the citizens. While on the one hand this means that empathy and compassion can be viewed as key attributes in decision makers; on the other hand, it also demonstrates the key role emotional regulation plays in decision making. Recognizing that decisions are based on technical facts as well as emotions can potentially help achieve the balance between efficiency and altruism. It is also no surprise that the political nature of their work can, at times, take its toll on decision makers’ own emotional and social wellbeing.