Leadership can be exciting, filled with opportunities to lead your team to success. But the constant pressure of deadlines, meetings, and the need to address complaints can quickly lead to stress and overwhelm.
This is where effective leadership strategies become paramount. Because when that stress overwhelms us, we tend to do things that we often regret later.
Your response to stress directly impacts your team's performance and morale. But you’re not alone with these struggles.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what controls your stress and how you can navigate through it to provide a positive work environment for yourself and your team.
What's Amygdala Hijack?
Your amygdala is an almond-shaped tissue located deep in your brain. It serves as your emotional thermostat.
When it perceives a threat—be it a physical danger or a work-related stressor—it can trigger what’s known as an “amygdala hijack.” This is where your emotional response overpowers your ability to think rationally.
An amygdala hijack can lead to an automatic reaction that, while temporarily satisfying, can undermine your effectiveness as a leader.
How to Regain Control?
Finding balance in the midst of emotional turmoil is a common challenge for leaders. To steer through these moments, many successful leaders use a strategy that involves taking a step back and engaging in a self-reflective process.
Here's a simple way to put this into action:
Step 1: Identify Your Emotions
Start by acknowledging what you’re feeling. Are you angry, frustrated, or anxious? Name your emotions. Recognizing your feelings is the first step toward understanding them.
Step 2: Uncover the Triggers
Next, ask yourself what’s causing these emotions. Is it a missed deadline, a challenging team member, or personal stress spilling into your work life?
Step 3: Reflect on Your Behaviors
Consider how these emotions influence your behavior. Do they make you more critical, less communicative, or overly demanding?
This process doesn’t require you to come up with immediate solutions.
Instead, it’s giving you time and space for the logical part of your brain to take control.
By the simple act of writing down your emotional state, you create “distance” from the intensity of how you feel.
The Benefits of a Leadership Mindset Reset
When you learn to reflect on your emotions during stress, you’ll have:
Improved Decision-Making: By understanding your emotional responses, you prevent them from dictating your actions, leading to more thoughtful and strategic decision-making.
Enhanced Team Dynamics: A leader who can manage their emotions fosters a more positive and productive work environment, reducing unnecessary tension.
Increased Respect and Trust: Leaders who demonstrate emotional intelligence earn the respect and trust of their team members, enhancing overall team morale.
Moving Forward: Developing Your Leadership Mindset
Being proactive rather than reactive can change the way you approach stress. When you incorporate this reflective practice into your daily routine, you cultivate a leadership mindset that is resilient, strategic, and empathetic.
Embrace the Challenge
Leadership is not just about leading others, it’s about managing your own stresses too. By mastering the reflective practice, you can be the calming guide for your team when challenges arise.
Try this simple exercise next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, and see how it helps you on your leadership journey.
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