No one wants to work for a volcano🌋…even one that erupts occasionally…
If you find yourself often frustrated or angry and then erupting on your team, you aren’t doing yourself or your team any favors.
It’s an indicator of a deeper, unaddressed issue.
Here are 4 steps to manage triggers when they occur:
-> -> -> IDENTIFY
Begin to pay attention to when you feel triggered. Observe when it occurs. Self-awareness is the first step to growth. No need to judge yourself for it – just be aware.
-> -> -> CONSIDER
Ponder where the trigger is coming from.
- What disturbs you most about the situation or experience?
- Is it a values conflict?
- Does it violate a belief you hold?
- Are you feeling, or is your reputation/character being, threatened or unsafe?
-> -> -> QUESTION
As best you can, separate the data/facts of the situation from the emotion of it. Then ask yourself:
- What about the data around the event is important, risky, or painful?
- Regarding the emotions—what are you experiencing and why do you think these emotions are coming up?
-> -> -> DECIDE
After uncovering this perspective, determine where you might be making interpretations or assumptions. Then choose how you will respond. Maybe its:
- Setting a new boundary or asking more questions to get further information
- Holding someone accountable.
- Letting go of an unrealistic expectation.
Identifying and managing triggers is definitely the deeper work of growing ‘WHO’ we are as a leader.
It is an important and necessary commitment if we want to be leaders who walk in integrity and truly lead by example.
Thank you for reading!
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