Respond, don't react

 

90% of the things that hurt your feelings

had nothing to do with you:

Someone snaps at you in a meeting.
A friend goes quiet out of nowhere.
Your boss gives feedback that stings.

And your first thought is, "What did I do wrong?"

Probably nothing.

That person was stressed. Tired. Carrying something you know nothing about.

But you took it home with you.

Replayed it.
Lost sleep over it.
Made it yours when it never was.

I used to do this constantly.

One sideways comment and I would carry it for days.

Not because I was weak.

Because I had no system for deciding what was mine to carry and what was not.

So I started running everything through six questions before I respond to anything that feels personal.

1. Can I separate myself from this?
2. Am I hearing or reacting?
3. What was their actual intent?
4. Is this really about me?
5. Can I release this?
6. What response serves me best?

That is my SHIELD method in the infographic.

And it works because it slows you down just enough to choose.

The goal is not to stop feeling.

The goal is to stop letting someone else's bad morning become your bad afternoon (and sometimes bad week when we let it).

The strongest people I know are not the ones who always have the perfect comeback.

They are the ones who never needed one.

https://tinyurl.com/ycxnp6vp

What makes a CEO great?

 

Great CEOs are made, not born.
But what makes a CEO great?

Think about a leader you admire.
What words describe them?

• Focused
• Inspiring
• Visionary
• Assertive
• Confident
• Adaptable
• Supportive
• Trustworthy
• Approachable
• Compassionate
• Collaborative
• Transparent
• Charismatic
• Innovative
• Strategic
• Resilient
• Decisive
• Ethical

These qualities don't just happen.
You have to learn and practice them.

But how?
It's about developing your IQ, EQ, and SQ.
And you can improve each one with effort.

🧠 IQ is about how smart you are.

It's using your brain to:
➟ Learn
➟ Solve problems
➟ Make good decisions

❤️ EQ is about understanding emotions.

Your own and those around you.
Great leaders manage their emotions.
They recognize and connect with others' too.

🤝 SQ is about building relationships.
It's being good at working with people.

You show it when you:
➟ Network
➟ Make friends
➟ Lead by influence
➟ Collaborate in teams

All 3 are beneficial.
But EQ is often the most crucial for leaders.

Why? Because it helps the leader:

• Connect
• Build trust
• Understand
• Inspire others

Leadership is all about people.
And leaders with high EQ tend to lead people better.

So, how can you improve your EQ?

1. Reflect on Your Emotions:
Take time to think about how you feel and why.
This helps you understand yourself better.

2. Listen Actively:
Really hear what others are saying.
It's not just the words, but the feelings behind them.

3. Empathize:
Try to put yourself in someone else's shoes.
How would you feel in their situation?

4. Seek Feedback:
Ask people you trust about how you handle emotions.
Be open to what they say.

5. Manage Stress:
Find ways to stay calm and think clearly.
Especially when things get tough.

A leader's job isn't just to lead.
It's growing, helping, and inspiring others.

Improve your EQ to be more than a leader.
Be someone who makes a real difference.

Grow your EQ.
Grow as a leader.

What's one trait you admire most in a leader?

https://tinyurl.com/23rv3nyb