Have you ever received feedback at work and felt the urge to react defensively? It happened to me. Early in my career, I received unexpected feedback from a team member shared in the presence of our manager. I felt surprised, attacked, betrayed, and furious. I raised my voice and stormed out of the room.
The importance of self-regulation
It is an essential part of your leadership toolkit. It’s about managing our emotions, especially in stressful situations, to maintain control and foster a positive work environment. Reflective leaders recognize that no one is perfect, and everyone has room for improvement.
As leaders, our reactions hold significant power.
Using our authority to lash out not only brings negativity into the workplace but also undermines our integrity and effectiveness as leaders.
How can we do better?
- Embracing feedback as a learning opportunity builds trust and helps you grow.
- Understanding that our journeys are messy and only make sense in retrospect develops empathy and forgiveness.
- Leading by example fosters trust and respect among your team.
I’m inspired by those striving to be better managers. It gives me hope to see leaders who are reflective and committed to self-improvement. Let’s all play our part in making work a better place. Who knows, maybe difficult relationships at work will start feeling easier too?
