Leaders are under constant pressure to act. We have to solve problems, manage workplace demands, and adapt to change—swiftly and effectively.
Self-Management gives us the time and space to consider whether we’re truly responding to situations or merely reacting. The difference is profound. It means we’re either helping or hurting everyone around us.
What Self-Management is and why it matters
“No man is free who cannot command himself.” – Pythagoras
In a nutshell, Self-Management is the ability to calm down when we’re upset—and before we take any action at all.
Self-Awareness is the foundation of Self-Management. Self-Awareness teaches us to recognize our emotions and how they affect others. On the other hand, Self-Management helps us manage those emotions and act (or not act) upon them.Self-Management is about more than helping you become an inspirational leader.
It’s about you taking full responsibility for your own mood and emotions; the way you use your time; how you behave; and your commitment to continuously practicing self-improvement. That is what sows true inspiration in your workplace.
How to increase your own Self-Management at work
These Self-Management techniques can help you feel equipped to confidently lead in lieu of high demands and stress at work:
- Just hit pause. When under pressure, always pause before you act. Breathe slowly in and out. Count to ten. Reflect on different perspectives, and ask yourself if you can look at the situation another way.
- Adopt healthy life habits. Keeping your mind and body in balance plays a huge part in how capable you feel to manage your emotions. Be sure to eat nutritious food, meditate, rest when you need it, and get regular exercise even if it’s only a short walk.
- Be positive and energizing. Spend more time seeking out and identifying the positive things in your work environment. Talk about them with your team and your peers. Let them see the good.
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Ask for honest feedback and input from others if they don’t already provide it to you. Knowing your weaknesses and areas for improvement can really help you learn to adapt to rapidly changing situations and constructive criticism.
- Keep your emotions in check. Practice Self-Awareness so that you know how your emotions can play a role in the unspoken, body-language messages you’re sending to others.
- Manage your time effectively. Create simple, small habits like being on time for meetings. Set buffer time for activities. Limit email and call times to certain times of the day. Block out time in your schedule for thinking, travel, and rest.
The benefits of leaders showing more Self-Management at work
When we pay deliberate attention to the way we manage our behavior and our time, we can truly transform the way our teammates and peers perceive us.
- Makes for a very productive workplace. No doubt a leader’s mood can be an infectious and powerful force in the workplace. When you’re managing your emotions, time, and behavior, your positive mood will likely increase your own productivity and that of everyone around you.
- You’ll become great at cultivating resilience. When you practice Self-Management, you naturally become a more resilient person. This helps you thoughtfully manage high work demands rather than being temperamental and stressed out.
- More good things will happen. What they say is true—positive energy attracts positive outcomes, and likewise with negative energy and negative outcomes. Leaders who can manage their own emotions are optimistic, which helps manifest incredible opportunities and possibilities, even when things are rough.
- You’ll have better work relationships. The calm, optimistic demeanor of high Self-Management professionals leads to healthy, engaging interactions with their teams and peers. You’ll feel more connected to everyone around you.
It doesn’t mean that leaders who are great at Self-Management aren’t overwhelmed by negative emotions at times. It just means they consistently practice how to manage them, and be optimistic in spite of them.
They see emotions as useful data that help them find opportunities, even in the face of adversity. And that is what successful leadership is about.
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