MIT is committed to ensuring that all members of the MIT community feel valued, respected, listened to, and heard – with compassion, kindness, and a collaborative spirit, regardless of function, level, or aspects of identity. The skills and tools offered in the Search Inside Yourself (SIY) program help the Institute meet this commitment, as well as create a sense of belonging for our community members as defined in the Strategic Action Plan for Belonging, Achievement and Composition.
On a personal level, all of us are working in an increasingly complex and uncertain world where skills like conscious leadership, resilience, belonging, and mindfulness matter more than ever. Learn more about Search Inside Yourself on this page, and then we hope you'll sign up for an upcoming session.
What Is the Program About?
Designed and implemented at Google, Search Inside Yourself features research, theory, strategies, small group conversations, mindfulness practices, and individual reflection. With accessible and practical content, the program will help you to:
- Experience greater overall well-being.
- Develop greater self-awareness and emotion regulation.
- Build resilience in the face of challenges.
- Develop empathy and communicate more effectively.
- Manage stress.
- Increase focus and attention.
How Does the Program Work?
Search Inside Yourself starts with a live training (with in-person and virtual options), followed by a four-week integration period to ensure that new skills become enduring habits. The program is highly interactive, with approximately one-third content and two-thirds experiential exercises, including one-on-one group conversations, attention-training practices, journaling, and listening activities.
As a participant, you will take part in:
- Workshops (12 hours in all, with in-person and virtual options)
- 28-day challenge with daily prompts for mindfulness practice
- One-hour capstone to reflect on the SIY experience and set intentions moving forward
Why Is Emotional Intelligence So Important?
Thinking about enrolling in an upcoming Search Inside Yourself program but need more information? Learn about the neuroscience behind the program and why it's so effective in helping participants improve focus, empathy, and resilience.
What Do Participants Say?
"SIY helped me re-center myself and re-establish motivation and connection to MIT."
Program participant
Responses gathered from learners immediately after the instructor-led program.
Past MIT participants have said the most valuable aspects of the program included
- information about how to lead with compassion and empathy,
- finding a shared language that is helpful in MIT's commitment to creating a more inclusive workplace, and
- learning techniques to be present, be a better listener, and have stronger focus.
Testimonials
In a post-program survey, participants said:
- Through SIY, MIT is recognizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and awareness in our work.
- SIY is a gift to employees.
- I really appreciate working for an organization that devotes work time to the program.
- Everyone should take this program.
- I gained strategies, tools, and micro-practices that I could implement immediately.
See Upcoming Sessions
Ready to join the program?
Effective Teaming
In addition to the main Search Inside Yourself program, MIT offers a related course, Effective Teaming, for those who lead teams or project groups.
Current behavioral science and neuroscience research show that individuals and teams perform optimally when in an environment where they feel a sense of belonging, inclusion, trust, and psychological safety.
This interactive program offers those who lead teams with practical interpersonal skills grounded in attention training, growth-oriented mindsets, and collaborative behaviors, all aspects of optimal team performance.
SIY at MIT
If you have questions about SIY or are interested in bringing the program to your DLCI, contact siy-mit@mit.edu.
SIY Alums
If you are an MIT SIY Alum, join our programming designed to expand your mindfulness practices and emotional intelligence (EI) skills to benefit MIT, your team, and yourself.
Get started
The SIY Alums Program will support the community’s desire to:
- Practice together, support each other in our challenges, and share our learning,
- Make visible the way we are using these practices and skills in our areas,
- Co-create tools to promote mindfulness/EI in our areas, and
- Offer community events for connection and continued development.
Get started by joining the MIT SIY Alums Slack workspace (Touchstone required; from the “Workspaces at MIT” page, just search for “SIY”). You'll connect with fellow SIY Alums to share ideas, resources, and find support for growing your own and your area’s use of mindfulness and EI.
The MIT SIY Alums Program is facilitated by Chris Karam, Organization Development Consultant, MIT HR, and Zan Barry, Manager, Community Wellness Programs at MIT Health.
The SIY Team
Our MIT SIY team includes SIY certified facilitators, a program coordinator, and other subject matter experts.
List of members
- Ashley Norwood, Health Coach, MBSR Practitioner
- Chris Karam, Organization Development Consultant, HR
- Dyan Madrey. Organization Development Consultant, HR
- Elizabeth Hawley, Program Coordinator, HR Strategic Talent Management
- Leah Gallant, HR and Talent Management, Alumni and Resource Development
- Lisa Freed, Research Scientist, retired
- Mark Bathe, Professor, MIT Department of Biological Engineering
- Ronnie Haas, Senior Advisor, HR
- Scott Rolph, Organization Development Consultant, HR
- Sharon Bridburg, Director, Strategic Talent Management, HR
- Sonja Dagbjartsdottir, HR Director, DSL
- Tracie Jones-Barrett, Advisor, Leadership Development, Provost Office/HR
- Zan Barry, Senior Program Manager. Community Wellness at MIT Health