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Read time: 2 mins
In my early 20s (hey, Lynne here), I worked for a boss we used to call “Chicken Little.”
She was a worrier.
If we were even slightly off target, she’d freak out, swoop in, and pull everyone off what they were focused on.
We’d jump into action, scrambling to implement some reactive solution she thought would help.
She'd calm down, we'd go back to 'normal'... waiting for her next 'disaster' to strike.
We were always on edge.
It was not a fun team to be part of, and we never worked effectively under that kind of pressure.
Looking back now, with perspective and empathy, I can see she was just scared.
She was likely worried about failing—concerned about the consequences of not meeting our targets and the potential fallout with customers or stakeholders.
She didn’t want to create a fearful, inefficient team.
She just didn’t know how to handle her emotions.
And that’s the thing: if you don’t handle your emotions effectively, they come out in ways that hurt you and your team.
What she needed (though I didn’t realise it at the time) was a coach or mentor to point out what was happening, help her manage her anxiety, and help her prevent it from derailing the team.
Whether you're just like my Chicken Little boss or not, we all sometimes struggle with handling fear and anxiety as a leader.
So how do you handle your emotions productively?
Here are 4 strategies we recommend:
4 STRATEGIES FOR HANDLING YOUR EMOTIONS AS A LEADER
1. Recognise How You're Feeling
Acknowledge what you’re feeling, ideally before you start reacting.
Taking the time to identify and name emotions like fear, frustration, or anxiety helps you choose your response.
If my Chicken Little boss had first recogniesd she was scared, she might have sought out more information to understand the issue instead of swooping in.
2. Ask for Feedback
Self-reflection is valuable, but we all have blind spots.
Regularly seek feedback from your team and peers to better understand your reactions and their consequences.
Ask questions like:
- How do I typically react when something's not working well?
- Is that response effective? If not, why?
- How could I respond more effectively?
3. Develop More Effective Responses
Decide in advance how you want to respond to common situations.
This proactive approach allows you to manage your emotions more effectively, reducing the likelihood of knee-jerk reactions that can disrupt team dynamics.
4. Seek Support
When you're struggling to manage your emotions, don't hesitate to seek help.
An outside perspective—from a mentor, coach, or even a peer—can provide clarity and guidance on developing more productive ways to handle your emotions.
Bottom line: Being aware of and handling your emotions requires understanding them and managing them effectively, so they don’t hurt your business or your team.
If you find it hard to handle your emotions as a leader, you’re not alone.
If this is something you’re struggling with, let’s chat.
Speak soon,
Lynne & Steve
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