Leading with emotional intelligence: The key to business success
Leaders who lack emotional regulation and self-awareness have a negative impact on their organisations.
In my experience, leaders who are unable to manage their emotions and understand their thoughts and behaviours can create a toxic work environment and negatively affect the performance and morale of their team.
For example, I once worked for an organisation, the manager was reactive and prone to outbursts of anger. This created a stressful and hostile work environment, and many of the team members felt intimidated and unsupported.
This type of behaviour from a leader can result in high turnover rates, low morale, and a decrease in productivity and motivation among employees.
On the other hand, when leaders are self-aware and have strong emotional regulation skills, they create a positive and supportive work environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and success.
I recall a time when my manager took the time to understand his own emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. He was able to remain calm and focused in the face of challenges.
This has fostered a positive work environment and has encouraged the team to be their best selves and achieve great things as a team.
Having self-awareness and emotional regulation skills is critical for leaders in today’s business world. By focusing on building these traits, leaders can create positive and supportive work environments that drive motivation, productivity, and success.
Here are 3 tips to achieving greater emotional regulation…
- Be aware of your emotions: Pay attention to how you’re feeling and try to understand what triggers your strong emotions. By being aware of your emotions, you can catch them early and take steps to manage them.
- Find healthy ways to cope: Discover activities that make you feel better and help you regulate your emotions. This could include exercising regularly, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, maintaining a balanced lifestyle, getting enough sleep, and seeking support from friends and family.
- Learn techniques to manage emotions: Work with a professional and educate yourself on techniques that can help you regulate your emotions. For example, you can try changing negative thoughts to more positive ones, using visualisation techniques, relaxation exercises, or practicing reflection, which involves focusing on the present moment without judgment.
Remember, it takes time and practice to improve emotional regulation. Be patient with yourself, and if you need extra support, don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional.
