Leading with Empathy During Turbulent Times
I'm just back from an incredible trip to France. In addition to enjoying the beauty of this country, we were able to unplug from the barrage of bad news and political ads bombarding us. It felt like a well-needed mental health break.
It was perfect except for 24 hours in a beautiful little Inn in St. Remy in Provence.
From the second we walked into the room, we were bombarded with electrical issues...lights that turned themselves on in the middle of the night, an air conditioner that we couldn't turn on, and other assorted "first world" problems.
On top of all the chaos, I thought I lost a brand-new purse. I was absolutely certain it was in our hotel room, having just switched bags for the move to a new hotel.
We turned the place inside out, searching every nook and cranny. When we still couldn't find it, I jumped to the worst conclusion—someone must have taken it during housekeeping. With a mix of frustration and exhaustion, I stormed down to the front desk to complain about the room issues and, well, I just lost it. Tears flowed, fueled by a crescendo of stress and anxiety.
In hindsight, this massive overreaction caught me off guard. I like to think I am good at putting things in perspective. I like to think that I know the difference between real problems and first-world problems. I like to think of myself as a “recovering over-reactor.” Yet even an emotionally intelligent, mindful coach can lose her sh*t when pushed.
Ironically, I watched "Inside Out" on our flight home and felt a profound connection to the little orange character embodying anxiety.
There’s a scene where the character embodying Anxiety becomes so overwhelmed by the responsibility of safeguarding the person whose emotions she protects that she becomes paralyzed—a striking representation of a panic attack. This moment prompted me to reflect on how our emotions occasionally overpower us.
Today, as we observe Mental Health Awareness, I felt compelled to share this story. Many of us struggle to name and understand our emotions. It's like we're constantly battling to keep our emotional dashboard in check.
It's why I often recommend Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart to my clients. This book is a beautiful reminder that emotions are not just happy, sad, or angry—they're complex, and recognizing them is crucial to navigating life's challenges.
One piece of wisdom I frequently share is this mantra: "Name it, claim it, and reframe it."
By identifying what’s going on inside us, claiming it as a reaction to a situation, and then reframing it, we open ourselves up to new responses and experiences.
With everything swirling in the world today, recognizing and validating our feelings is more important than ever. Many of us are feeling heightened anxiety due to a mirage of uncertainties, and that's okay. We're living in challenging times, and it tests our ability to maintain mental health.
As the film suggests, naming your emotions provides clarity and control, which are key to managing emotional turbulence. By understanding our feelings, we can better tackle anxiety and cultivate a healthier emotional landscape. Recognizing these inner voices is the first step to mastering your emotional well-being.
As leaders, it's essential to understand the myriad of emotions our teams are experiencing and how we can support them during these stressful times.
In light of this, I'm hosting a Town Hall via Zoom on October 29th from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. entitled "Leading with Empathy During Turbulent Times". It'll be a safe space for leaders to explore their emotions and brainstorm ways to support their teams during these difficult days.
Register here for this free community conversation.