Most of us can sense when we're not well. Emotions, like our physical bodies, whisper hints to let us know how we're doing. I can tell when I'm getting upset. I get fidgety and can literally feel my heart beating in my chest. And when I finally arrive at that shaky, angry stage, I get a violent attack of the lump-in-my-throat cry feeling, which doesn't always serve me well in the corporate world, to say the least.  Are you tuned in to the cues your emotions send your way? Watch for this the next time you feel yourself getting mad -- really mad. What subtle signals do your emotions emit prior to you reaching full-blown enraged? 
Being able to recognize and clearly define the emotions we are feeling in any given moment is the first step in learning to manage our emotions appropriately. The more specifically we label our feelings will assist us in properly navigating the next steps. I think I am mad but am I really feeling mad? Or would the feeling better be defined as anxious, distressed, attacked, or frustrated?
Emotional awareness -- the ability to recognize and define our emotions, and connect them to their source, holds great value as we navigate relationships in the workplace. Once we can begin to be aware of our own emotional state, and manage it well, we can start to recognize how those around us are feeling and lead with deeper understanding and empathy.
"Having a high level of established emotional intelligence is an essential aspect of effective, authentic leadership. This managing of one’s emotions will allow a leader to see the ebb and flow of not only their emotions, but that of others as well and be able to monitor their reactions to it."  -- Craig Sundberg, Ed.S.
 If you are interested in developing a greater sense of emotional self-awareness, consider keeping an emotional mood journal throughout the day. Make a list of the emotions you most commonly feel -- and remember to be specific. Take note of how often you experience this feeling, why you are feeling it, and the intensity of it.  Then ask yourself:
  • What just happened that triggered this feeling?
  • Is this emotion affecting my thoughts and behavior positively or negatively?
  • Does this feeling empower or discourage me?
  • How would I prefer to be feeling in the moment?
  • What can I do to help me achieve the desired emotion? 
Working with a coach is always a good idea when attempting to make behavior changes that stick.  Sometimes just having an outside viewpoint can provide just the right encouragement needed to keep us moving in the right direction.
Read Craig's entire article posted on St. Mary's University online by clicking here:  Emotional Intelligence In Our Leaders