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2021-08-21

When Your Feelings Conflict with Your Leadership Role

When Your Feelings Conflict with Your Leadership Role

Leaders can use the following techniques when their emotions and emotional expectations conflict in the workplace:

Reappraise the situation

Leaders can focus on finding legitimate reasons to feel the expected feelings. This approach is known as “deep acting,” which helps leaders avoid faking emotions. By changing their emotional state through reappraising the situation, leaders can more authentically show up with the expected emotions.

Focus on what matters.

Leaders can refocus by reflecting on why their work matters. By thinking about the larger purpose of their work, leaders can reduce the likelihood of burning out and becoming more energized.

Do an emotional audit

Leaders can do an emotional audit to understand their feelings and where they come from. This helps leaders build emotional intelligence and self-awareness, essential for effective leadership.

Align position with values.

If a sense of dissonance in a leader’s role is consistent, they can consider aligning their position more closely with their values. Continually reappraising negative emotions about their role can help them stay true to their values while meeting the expectations of their work.

The article is “When Your Feelings Conflict with Your Leadership Role.