The Power Of Pause

Patience?is The Secret to a Successful Strategy

Last week, I had the privilege of engaging in a deep and meaningful discussion with an executive about the significance of patience and strategic thinking. We mutually agreed that to truly refine the art of developing a thoughtful strategy, we must first master our emotions - a skill that underscores the essence of emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is profoundly about deploying and regulating emotions intelligently.?

As a leader, strategically formulating a response when encountering emotional triggers is invaluable, a skill worth delving into.?

My Strategy for Steering Through Emotional Hijack

Identify Your Triggers:

The first step is self-awareness. Pay attention to what triggers strong emotions within you at work. These could be specific situations, behaviors, or comments. Write them down if you have to. This isn't about changing who you are but understanding yourself better.

Embrace the Pause:

When you're triggered, the first instinct might be to react impulsively. But remember, you are a leader. What you do next can make or break a situation. So, when you feel that strong emotional pull, pause. Embrace the silence. Give yourself a moment to process your thoughts before saying or doing anything.

Control the Narrative, Don't Let It Control You:

In that pause, remember, you're in charge. Take deep breaths, count to ten, whatever works for you. This isn't about suppressing your emotions but channeling them effectively.?

Respond, Don’t React:

This is the difference between being proactive and being reactive. You need to respond strategically, not react impulsively. When triggered, try to step back and look at the bigger picture. What are the potential consequences of your next move? How will it impact your team, your organization?

Engage in Active Listening:

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own emotional response that we stop listening. So, after you've had your moment of pause, listen. Listen to what the other person is saying. And when you respond, make sure you address their concerns. This will empower you to control the dialogue better and the captain who wisely navigates their conversation ship.

Communicate Your Thoughts Calmly and Effectively:

You've taken a pause. You've controlled your narrative. You've listened. Now it's time to respond. But remember, you're not here to win an argument. You're here to communicate your thoughts effectively. Speak calmly. Speak clearly. And remember, sometimes, it's not what you say but how you say it.

Reflect and Learn:

Every interaction is a learning opportunity. After each trigger event, reflect on it. What went well? What could you have done differently? Use this to strategize your responses in the future.

Final Note

I sincerely hope you find this information beneficial. Speaking from my own experience, I have committed numerous mistakes along my journey. However, each error has helped me establish a process to navigate situations when I feel emotionally overwhelmed or hijacked.

Through introspection and self-awareness, I have discovered that certain triggers can profoundly affect me. These triggers, often deeply rooted in my limiting beliefs, have been instilled by my unique life experiences.

It's essential to understand that these limiting beliefs act like traps. When triggered, they can cause me to act out of character or reduce me to a lesser version of myself. The key lies in recognizing these triggers and actively working to not fall into these metaphorical traps. It's a continual process of learning and growth, where each misstep presents an opportunity to become better at handling emotional upheavals.

By sharing this, I hope to inspire you to identify your own triggers and explore ways to manage them effectively.

Remember, emotional intelligence is not only about understanding and navigating our emotions but also about learning from our past, growing in the present, and shaping a better future.

Thank you for reading.

Until the next post, Ciao!