Managing Emotions in Life and Work

A key to managing emotions is recognizing them when they appear and stepping back to understand where they might be coming from. I have found this second part to have a positive impact on my sense of well-being, dampening the impact of negative feelings. 

Another key is awareness of how we impact others when we are experiencing anger, fear, or emotional pain. When I led a staff team, I closed the door and isolated in my office on my sour mood days. It is one thing to have a bad day, but better not to compound the problem by infecting colleagues! Effective leaders invest time to understand how their behaviors impact others. 

These steps are critical to maintaining a sense of balance, self-care, and self-control. When we are down, it is easy to get stuck in a kind of tunnel vision where we can’t see beyond the negatives. But stepping back to refocus our energy in ways that might not be apparent at first glance can make a big difference in life and work. It is so important to avoid acting in ways that undermine relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues.  

To be clear, I am not advocating to avoid emotions or sweep them under the rug, especially when they are reoccurring or persistent. I recommend therapy or talking through issues with trusted friends. 

How are you doing at managing emotions in daily life? Do you feel like you have a handle on identifying them when they occur and finding ways to understand what may have caused them? Do negative emotions impact your relationships with others? What might you do to up your managing emotions game?

For more on this topic, see my full column in the New Hampshire Business Review: https://read.nhbr.com/nh-business-review#2024/02/23/?article=4201307. 

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact!