How to use your emotions to navigate your success

How are you doing nine months into this global pandemic? Are you feeling grounded and focussed? Are you feeling anxious and uncertain? Are you on an emotional roller coaster ride?

Whatever you are feeling, I want you to know that it is okay. You are okay.

Whatever the people on your team are feeling, they are okay too!

Emotions are not “good” or “bad”.

Rather our emotions are our personal GPS.

When you need to drive to an unfamiliar place, you open up Waze and it guides you there.

I’d like to recommend that you use your emotional intelligence in the same way.

As a leader, having strong emotional intelligence right now is critical.

It is your guide.

Don’t ignore it.

Use it to help you navigate each situation as it arises.

How?

Well, let’s explore a scenario to explain how you can leverage your emotional intelligence.

Let’s say one of your direct reports made an avoidable mistake and you are feeling frustrated and angry.

There are several ways that you can respond.

Option 1: If you are not conscious of these emotions, you might become grumpy towards your colleague or even yell at them.

Option 2: If use your emotional intelligence (a skill you can develop), and are aware of your high level of frustration, you might say to yourself…

“Hmmm. I’m feeling frustrated and angry right now. I better walk around the block and take 10 deep breaths before I attempt to manage this situation.”

While the situation was static…what changed was your response.

A better, more conscious response means that you’ll have a better outcome, better relationships and therefore get better business results.

Emotional intelligence is not fluff.

It’s good for business.

It’s an important skill that all leaders need to learn and hone.