Did you know that emotional intelligence — a combination of personal, emotional, and social skills — has a huge influence on people's ability to succeed? A study by consulting firm the Hay Group found that salespeople with high EI produced twice the revenue of those with average scores.

Enter “Mastering the Game,” a program from Richmond, Va.-based LearningLinks that uses golf as its foundation. According to President John Haime, the program is quickly gaining popularity, with clients including the Royal Bank of Canada.

Here's how it works: Before the event, participants (a minimum of 12) fill out an emotional competency assessment. Day one begins with an evening session in which participants are debriefed on their scores. The following full-day program includes a 9-hole team activity and a variety of on-course experiences where golfers explore their emotions by asking questions of themselves as they compete. www.learninglinks.org