Mastering Leadership through emotional regulation
Emotions are an integral part of every human being, and they significantly impact how we function in our professional lives. Understanding these emotions and learning to regulate them, therefore, plays a crucial role in shaping a successful professional journey.
THE ROLE OF EMOTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE
Every individual in a professional environment, whether an experienced veteran or a fresh graduate, is influenced by their emotions. However, the way these emotions manifest and affect their actions varies from person to person. These differences stem from the individual’s unique response to challenging situations in the workplace.
The way a person manages their emotions, also referred to as emotional regulation, contributes to their overall persona and affects their colleagues and teams.
Emotional Regulation in Leadership
For leaders in particular, emotional regulation is a vital skill to master. A recent survey by CoachHub revealed that emotional regulation is the second most important area of focus for professionals worldwide, second only to conflict management1. This ranking underscores the importance of emotional regulation in professional environments.
Historically, employers favored a top-down leadership approach that limited the emotional influence on decision-making. This approach favored logical, data-driven decision-making over emotional responses. However, the global pandemic has significantly transformed workplace dynamics, altering employee expectations and managerial priorities. In this new normal, a balance of technical and soft skills, such as emotional regulation, is key to success.
IMPORTANCE OF SOFT SKILLS
In the rapidly evolving digital era, technical skills are crucial. However, these skills can quickly become outdated, as technological advancements introduce new programming languages and tools, rendering previous knowledge obsolete.
Soft Skills: The Evergreen Asset
On the other hand, soft skills are evergreen. They are always in demand and never go out of style. Creativity, resilience, conflict management, and emotional regulation are some examples of soft skills that are highly valuable across all professional fields.
These skills, often perceived as inherent, can be developed and honed over time. They are transferable and can help employees adapt to changing work environments, a crucial ability in the era of digital transformation and hybrid work2.
Emotional Regulation: A Key Soft Skill
Amongst the various soft skills, emotional regulation holds a prominent place. It is the bedrock of self-management. Professionals who can intentionally regulate their emotions can maintain their composure in volatile situations, stay positive during challenging times, and manage irritation in unfavorable circumstances.
Successful emotional regulation can lead to improved relationships, better communication, and enhanced business results.
LEADERSHIP AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION DURING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Organizational change is a constant factor in the corporate world. It can trigger a gamut of emotions and behaviors in leaders who are at the helm of these changes. While many studies focus on employees’ reactions to change, the leaders’ emotions and responses often remain unexplored.
Emotions Experienced by Leaders
A qualitative study examining leaders’ emotion regulation during organizational change revealed that leaders often experience negative emotions during the change process3.
The leaders managing organizational change processes described the experience as a series of disruptive emotional events. They reported experiencing more negative emotions than positive ones.
Emotion Regulation Strategies
In response to these emotions, leaders often resort to the emotion regulation strategy of suppression. This involves masking negative feelings with neutral or positive emotional displays.
Leaders reported that they often resort to suppression to maintain their professionalism, even if it impacts their health and well-being.
Understanding these emotional experiences can aid in the development of processes and tools that support leaders in managing these emotions. This, in turn, can lead to better outcomes for the leaders and their followers.
TIPS TO ENHANCING EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Looking to improve your emotional regulation? Here are some practical tips:
-
Practice Mindfulness: Being present in the moment can help you identify your emotional triggers.
-
Channel Your Emotions Constructively: Instead of suppressing negative emotions, find healthy outlets to express them.
-
Seek Support: A trusted mentor or coach can provide valuable insights and strategies for managing emotions.
REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
To further your understanding of the relationship between leadership and emotional regulation, consider the following reflective questions:
-
How have your emotions affected your decision-making during organizational changes?
-
What strategies do you use to regulate your emotions?
-
How does your emotional regulation impact your team’s performance?
-
How can increased awareness improve your leadership skills?
-
How do you balance your professionalism with your emotional well-being?
CONCLUSION
Mastering emotional regulation is crucial for leaders, especially in times of organizational change. It enables leaders to navigate through negative emotions, manage their reactions, and lead their teams effectively.
For those interested in developing their emotional regulation skills, consider connecting with Habitat for Leadership for personalized leadership coaching or leadership workshops. These programs are designed to empower leaders with the necessary skills and awareness to manage their emotions and lead with confidence.
As professionals, we must realize that emotions are not our enemies. Instead, they are powerful tools that, when understood and regulated properly, can propel us towards greater success.
Let’s embrace emotional regulation, not just as a soft skill, but as a life skill that enhances our personal and professional lives. Embrace the power of emotional regulation and take your leadership skills to a whole new level!
Remember, leadership is not about being in control, it’s about being in tune – with yourself and with those around you.
“Emotional regulation is not about suppressing our emotions, but rather understanding them and managing their influence on our actions.” – Anonymou
References:
