Avoiding contagion
Posted by jodietonita on July 24, 2007
Daniel Goleman, the author of the bestseller Emotional Intelligence, conducted significant research into the impact of leaders’ emotions on their organizations. His book, Primal Leadership, can be summarized as follows:
“A leader’s emotions are contagious. If a leader resonates energy and enthusiasm, an organization thrives. If a leader spreads negativity and dissonance, it flounders.”
Remember that 93% of communication is non-verbal–and emotional communication is especially intense. As we begin to master our emotional reactivity, we become more intentional about the “primal” impact we have on those around us.
“For one to control one’s thoughts and feeling means one can actually control one’s atmosphere and all who walk into its sphere of influence.”
Malcolm X
Understanding this enormous impact–for good and for ill– we want to set a high standard for what constitutes triggering (that is, to be more sensitively monitoring and shifting our state of being)
The Practice
Take note of each and every time you get triggered.
Commit to not acting when triggered.
Really!
Use the four-step process to recenter yourself in your place of power.
Managing Your Triggers Process
Step I: Name it.
Step II: Create space appropriately.
Step III Shift state
Step IV Respond to situation
“Action without contemplation is blind.”
Gandhi<
Adapted from the practices of Robert Gass.
