What Does Leadership Now Look Like?
Do you believe that emotions are best kept outside the workplace?
The most successful organizations and leaders know that to be productive, viable, and profitable, their people need to be holistically healthy; physically, mentally, and emotionally.
As a leader, your organization needs you to level up, learn the best ways to process emotion at work and lead your team through it so they can be the best, healthiest versions of themselves.
Like me, many of you reading this were indoctrinated in the belief that emotion at work is the equivalent of weakness. We may have been told not to appear so happy (it’s not professional), too sad (go home and get your personal affairs together before you come back), or too tired (try some makeup or a new suit).
Things have changed.
People are showing up carrying a world of baggage. There is no barrier from home, work, doggie daycare, the classroom, the conference room, the kitchen.
We are all overwhelmed; physically and mentally suffering and on the verge of burnout.
It’s time to lead your team through to the other side.
When we don’t process emotion, it processes us. We then act and react all day based on that emotion, rather than processing it and moving on. Over time, this wears us down until either physical or mental health stops us in our tracks, and working is not possible.
How do you know if this is happening within your team? Your team is showing clear signs of complacency;
Making passive-aggressive comments
Snapping at one another
Slap on a forced smile, and fake happiness.
The ripple effect of these behaviors creates a culture of hopelessness and burnout. Human beings cannot sustain this way of living.
You need a common language to help each other through the inevitable challenge and uncertainty we’re surrounded by today.
How can you identify the need to become more emotionally agile?
Look at your team. How many are sharing with you that they are up before dawn and answering emails late into the evening? Who have you noticed making uncommon errors, or acting out of character?
The results are clear: we are dealing with the highest rates of burnout, exhaustion and if you are lucky, poor productivity, low mood, and waning motivation that we have ever seen.
Don’t let these facts immobilize you. There are things you can do to improve how you and your team work. Even within your immediate team, you can rebuild and recreate the culture you deserve by being intentional, having an open mind, and accepting that you must change if you want to see a change in those who follow you. Watch how others will follow suit.
Want to put thought into action? Let’s do it together.
Reach out today to learn about my Emotional Agility framework for leaders and teams.
There is a way back, and you can be the leader your people need to bring them there.