By Lou Russell
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As we continue to adapt reluctantly to the changing virus, work, school, weather, and whatever else is coming next (Brood X Giant Cicadas?), we keep ensuring ourselves that it is almost over. I have also said that for over 14 months. The chaos is beyond our control, but we are responsible for our emotions and accountability. So, how do we control our emotions and accountability?
Uncover the power of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and noticing your emotions along with accountability can lead you through challenging times.
Your emotions are watching you closely in our current times. Emotions trigger your brain’s first alarm, whether negative or positive. All of us have had the feeling that something is wrong, but we don’t yet know how to define it. You can learn to notice that your body is changing and then make choices about what is happening and how you will react before it’s too late. Unfortunately, people who have not grown their emotional muscles often react quickly and defensively, losing control of their energy.
This reaction is where the trouble begins. As soon as you start to get upset, your brain quickly tries to protect you. All the other parts of your brain go to the back burner, and you are left with FIGHT, FLIGHT, and FREEZE. These are the only emotions that you can use once you are riled up. It is important to practice and grow your ability to NOTICE and CHOOSE. Learning this gives you a strong tool to make the choice of how to proceed. Positive emotions can be a launching pad for driving growth through individual accountability.
With people working in many different places, leaders may find it confusing to keep track of what work is being done, including the priority of the work. This issue is not just about watching out for people avoiding work; there are also issues for people working too much and burning out. Leaders and individuals must encourage accountability and continue to create ongoing discussions that repair the many ways that have pivoted because of the shutdown.
In closing, one of my favorite quotes by Marshall McLuhan offers a key takeaway. He says, “The future masters of technology will have to be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb.”
As you continue moving through chaos, emotions, and accountability, you can be the “master of technology.” Remember and reuse the techniques that you have in your virtual pocket already, and keep your eyes open for new variations and ideas that can grow your EQ and behave with accountability.
How we control our emotions is entirely up to us. I’d love to hear from you about your favorite crazy pivots. I’ll share all of these with anyone who wants to laugh or cry and keep right on going forward. Enjoy!
Lou Russell, the CEO and Duchess of RMA, is an executive consultant, popular speaker, and respected author whose passion is to create growth in companies by guiding the growth of their people. In her speaking, training, and writing, she draws on 30 years of experience helping organizations to achieve their full potential. Lou is the author of seven popular books, such as IT Leadership Alchemy, 10 Steps to Successful Project Management, Talent GPS, Leadership Training, Training Triage, and Managing Projects. She has spoken at more than 300 conferences, including ATD International, the eLearning Guild, and the Society of Information Management (SIM). Lou has an “expired” BS from Purdue in computer science and an MS in instructional systems technology from Indiana University. She has been playing in the world of training for over 20 years.
Lou is the author of Rocket: The Project Management Game, found at HRDQ. Connect with Lou on LinkedIn, Twitter, and at www.moserit.com.
Uncover the power of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and noticing your emotions along with accountability can lead you through challenging times.
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