Mastering Emotional Intelligence

Elevate Your Leadership

Emotional intelligence is one of the most underrated skills in leadership. As leaders, we often focus on strategy, decision-making, and managing people. But what about managing our emotions?

Let’s explore a concept by Larry Senn that makes this clear: Your mood is like an elevator. And guess what? You have full control over which floor you’re on.

Emotions: Not Good or Bad — Just Information

Many of us label emotions as good or bad, but that’s not the right approach. Emotions are neutral — they’re simply data that guide us through life. They are signals pointing us toward areas that need attention.

Here’s the key:

You get to choose what your emotions mean, and more importantly, how you respond to them. This is a crucial skill, especially in leadership, where your emotions influence not just you, but your team, decisions, and results.

So, how do you learn to navigate this emotional elevator effectively?

1. Start With Awareness

The first step to managing emotions is awareness. Check in with yourself regularly. Ask, “Where am I on the emotional elevator?”