Navigating Leadership's Storms with Equanimity
Deepa Prakash, PMP? CSM? CSPO? AWS Cloud Practitioner?
TPM | Ex Vice President | QA Engineering | Program Management | Digital & Agile Transformation Leader | Product QA | Ex Thomson Reuters | Ex VeriSign
In a world that seems to be in constant turmoil, where uncertainty and chaos prevail, there is one essential tool that stands out as a beacon of strength and stability and that is "Equanimity". As Leaders navigate through the complexities and adversities of modern times, the ability to maintain a calm and composed mindset becomes not just an advantage, but a necessity .
Am sure you might have come across leaders who remains unruffled amidst chaos , radiating a sense of calm that inspires and reassures their team. This is the power of equanimity in leadership.
However Equanimity does not imply suppressing emotions but rather managing them in a way that allows leaders to make rational decisions and maintaining stability amidst crisis that distinguishes exceptional leaders from the rest.
Studies have shown that Equanimity mindset has enabled leaders to approach problems with clarity and focus. Also who practice equanimity experience lower levels of stress and burnout and are more likely to foster a positive work environment resulting in higher employee engagement and retention rates.
I am quite curious to understand how leaders with equanimity trait are successful, is it that easy to develop this non negotiable tool? absolutely no, it needs deliberate and intentional yet consistent practice, while its not impossible.
Lets first understand various triggers why we lose our cool due to difficult situation, people or a conversation .
Regular Journaling helps to reflect upon those triggers and reactions in order to channelize our emotions to a positive outcome / response.
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Remember where focus goes, energy flows. So lets take a note of all the energy drainers and convert them into detox resolutions to bring productive outcomes.
Gratitude , prayers , breath work and Mindful meditation when practiced regularly have a phenomenal effect on our prefrontal cortex of our brain that is responsible to build equanimity as second nature .
Did you know balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and contributing your little kindness in impacting the community around you also constitutes to improving equanimity scale over the period of time.
When was the last time you lost your cool ? let me know what practices have enabled you to stay clear on your goals without any distractions?
Associate Medical Director at Carelon Medical Benefits, Elevance Health
1 年Very well written, Deepa. While equanimity is easy to understand it’s difficult to implement. With our senses always seeking stimulation from the external world and providing our minds with sensual pleasure and pain, we tend to react accordingly. We feel elated or sad or ‘lose our cool’ at the drop of the hat. How do we overcome the emotional swing from one extreme to the other? How do we remain calm at the time of crisis? How do we still maintain semblance of leadership? We don’t need to seek out. The answers are available in the Bhagavat Gita, the instruction manual for Life. Lord Krishna has given clear answers to all of us through the warrior Krishna. Although the Gita was bestowed more than 5000 years ago, the values and principles laid down in the Gita are appropriate even now. Controlling the senses, turning our attention inward, realizing the permanent and impermanent nature of our existence help us achieve equanimity.