Learning To Stress Less

Emotional self-awareness is the ability to read and understand our emotions as well as recognise their impact on our work performance, relationships and beyond.

Modern leaders do the hard work of examining the influence that their emotions, biases, assumptions and stories have on their decisions and relationships.

The more we practise understanding ourselves and gaining awareness into what motivates us, what triggers us and where our biases lie, the more effective a leader we will be. When a leader is self-aware, it can give others a feeling of safety because a self-aware leader will manage their emotions and behaviour to reduce stress. They will seek to encourage a sense of flourishing for those they work with.

---

“To be metacognitive in moments of high stress and difficult emotions takes practice. It requires allowing time to pass between the onset of your feelings and your expression of your feelings. Taking a step back gives your executive brain a chance to choose your reaction instead of just falling into one.”

- Arthur C. Brooks, in his column in The Atlantic, How to Stop Freaking Out

What do you need this week to help understand your triggers?

You can read more in my latest book, Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership, which is available everywhere.

You can also follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram where I tend to be the most active. See you there!