Like so much else this year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of this month’s 56th Annual TRSA Executive Management Institute (EMI). It will return on Aug. 8-12, 2021. In lieu of this year’s EMI, we wanted to examine an aspect of this program that’s highly regarded but a mystery to some: the Year III segment. These sessions include an extensive focus on helping linen, uniform and facility services executives hone their skills at “emotional intelligence,” i.e., their ability to balance self-regulation, self-awareness, motivation, empathy and social skills.

This concept, also known as EQ, is sometimes summed up as “People ...