Facing tough leadership challenges requires controlling your emotional reactions to maintain effective decision-making and communication. Practice mindfulness and deep breathing techniques to manage stress and keep your emotions in check. Reflect on the situation before responding to ensure your actions are thoughtful and measured. Seek feedback and perspectives from trusted colleagues to broaden your understanding and reduce impulsivity. Regularly engage in physical activities or hobbies that help release tension. Developing emotional intelligence through self-awareness and empathy is crucial, allowing you to respond to challenges with clarity and composure.

As a leader, one of the reasons for feeling less in control of my emotions is feeling overwhelmed with workload. So what I have found effective are the following 3 key things: 1] Improving my planning ability, re-organising my work responsibility and focusing on high impact activities and delegating the rest. 2] Regular meditation for improving mindfulness combined with an exercise like swimming. It keeps me at ease. 3] Reminding myself that every challenge is an opportunity to grow and evolve. So I consciously work towards training my mind to look for the seed of an equivalent benefit in every adversity and being grateful. So the challenges keep me excited.

Leadership under pressure: It's not about suppressing emotions, but mastering them. First, practice self-awareness. Recognize your triggers and how stress manifests in your body. Next, pause before reacting. Take a deep breath, count to ten, or step away briefly if needed. Reframe challenges as opportunities for growth. This shift in perspective can calm your emotional response. Develop a support network of mentors or peers. Sharing experiences can provide valuable insights and emotional relief. Regular self-care is crucial. Exercise, meditation, or hobbies can help manage stress long-term. Remember: Your team looks to you for stability. By controlling your emotions, you create a resilient environment for all.

When facing tough leadership challenges, I control my emotional reactions by practising self-awareness, staying focused on facts over emotions, and taking a step back to evaluate the situation calmly. I prioritize active listening, seek input from trusted peers or mentors, and use mindfulness techniques to stay composed. Maintaining a solution-oriented mindset and separating emotions from decision-making ensures my responses are measured, professional, and aligned with the organization’s goals.

Breathe through the nose and shut your mouth! Your nose is connected to the amygdala, while the mouth - to the prefrontal cortex. We gasp when we see a threat, which fuels the reptilian brain and the fight/flight/freeze reaction. Instead, shut your mouth and breathe slowly through the nose.