In the past, awareness of your feelings was not considered a leadership strength. After all, work was work, and the rest was just the touchy-feely stuff, right? Today, experience and research into high-performing leadership tells us that emotions are involved in every decision we make, regardless of how we may try to tune them out. Being at your best actually depends on being aware of your feelings. Bury them, and you blind yourself to deeper data that can inform you, enable you to inspire your people, and make you approachable to them. Make it a practice to notice what you’re feeling—when this becomes a habit, you will add wisdom to your leadership.
Self-coaching Questions:
- In what ways do I bring my feelings—or avoid bringing them—into my work day to day?
- How can I “check in” with myself about what I’m feeling on a regular basis?
- What situations / people are likely to tempt me to tune out my feelings, and what’s needed to change that pattern?
Executive Coach and President
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Note: Over 100 of these tips appear in my book: Beyond Effective: Practices in Self-aware Leadership. Click on the image of the book for more information.
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