Being Stable

As leaders, we face a variety of pressures and expectations. Today’s corporate environment brings unprecedented challenges. There are as many responses to these pressures as do the personalities  of the leaders behind them. Ineffective or (worse) toxic cultures are a result of leaders who respond to trials in detrimental ways. Consistently effective management requires a high inner stability, making emotional health one of the most critical attributes we can bring as leaders who  keep organizations running well.

Studies and statistics tell us the woes of employees dealing with leaders who make life difficult. The rates of disengagement and turnover attest, in part, to how leaders can make work an undesirable experience. The new front of hybrid work, ups the level. Leaders who cause cultures to have low morale, disunity or distrust are likely to have deficient emotional health. Often this condition stresses the emotional health of everyone. One saying I learned since the pandemic is, "hurt people hurt people." True that.

How would we reduce or even eradicate that in the workplace?

If you were to take a step back, would you be able to sense any emotionally difficult aspects of your leadership role? Would you say they inhibit your performance, or the performance of those reporting to you? If so, you may need to address your emotional health.

Anyone can allow emotions to override discernment or rational thinking. When this happens to a leader, decision making and solution generation are compromised. Emotions can get the best of us, and unfortunate things happen. The right and timely balance of thought and feeling provides the greatest advantage for managing well. 

Emotional balance requires knowing your tendencies. Being cognizant of our emotional inclinations helps address any shortcomings and correct them. This is one of the most challenging areas of leadership. Beyond technical skills and people skills, deft regulation of emotional skills require the deepest self-discovery. It requires an accurate self-awareness that often calls for honest feedback from others. No one is the best judge of their own emotional state.

What do you think? As a leader, how is your emotional health?

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