Years ago, a leader in the consulting office where I worked, casually mentioned to me this new concept people were talking about called emotional intelligence and then suggested I should investigate it. (Cue the internal eye roll.)
At the time, I knew everything and had a much better idea about how to do everything than everyone else. Or so my 20-something ego told me. Years later, after months of family therapy to support a family member’s addiction, I had an ah-ha moment: oh, that’s what she meant. I need to turn inward to be aware of my emotions so that I can then be mindful of how my words, tone, and facial expressions affect others.
I need to slow down to tune into others’ emotions: doing my best to look for visual clues and trusting my gut when something feels off. I learned that emotional intelligence is about understanding my own emotions and tuning into others’ emotions BEFORE choosing my words thoughtfully.
From then on, I practiced one simple yet crucial skill: pause before reacting.
How? I use the “3-breath rule.” It gives me space to check in.
Am I reacting from ego, fear, or truth? That tiny pause has helped me stay aligned with who I want to be as a leader.
🧭 This week’s reflection:
What would shift for you if you paused before responding?
Would the conversation feel more aligned?
Would you protect a relationship, preserve your credibility, or lead with more clarity?
The pause isn’t about being passive, it’s about creating space to respond with purpose instead of reacting from pressure.
Practice the power of pause. Try the “3-breath rule” before your next high-stakes moment.
I would love to hear how it works for you. Comment below 👇
This month’s weekly newsletters are all part of Strategy #8 for 2025: Get your emotions and reactions in check so that you stay grounded in your own personal power. (More important now than ever!)
I’ve coached leaders whose progress stalled, not from poor decisions, but from poor reactions.
A heavy sigh. A sharply noted message or email. A visible eye roll. These small signals tell a bigger story. 🙄 🙄 🙄
Personal Story:
I can remember a time that I reacted with exasperation at a colleague in my office, simply because she had not done what I asked her to do. Did I pause to consider what else was going on for her? Did I step back, take a breath, and bring a lens of curiosity?
Nope! And by reacting as I did; I eroded an already crumbling foundation in that relationship that went on to bite me in the you-know-what for the remaining time we worked together. Yup, I’m human too, and we all have our moments. But, wake up people: we must all (myself included) slow down and check our emotions!
Powerful leaders don’t just know what to say, they know how to respond under pressure.
The way you manage your reactions determines how others experience your leadership.
🧭 This week’s reflection:
Are your reactions building trust—or breaking it? Every response you give whether verbal or nonverbal, tells others how safe, stable, and credible you are under pressure.
➡️ Ask yourself: Would I trust someone who reacted the way I just did?
This week, notice one moment where you feel triggered.
Choose to pause. Then choose your response. Notice if you feel a shift.
🔥 Practice the Power of the Pause Mastering your reactions isn’t easy, but it’s one of the fastest ways to elevate your leadership.
If you’re ready to lead with intention and calm, I’d love to support you. Let’s schedule a call and create a strategy that keeps you grounded in your personal power. DM me or drop a comment below 👇🏽 and I’ll reach out.
#leadership #emotionalintelligence #personaldevelopment #management This month’s weekly newsletters are all part of Strategy #8 for 2025: Get your emotions and reactions in check so that you stay grounded in your own personal power. (More important now than ever!)
In leadership, it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it.
Being grounded when you are delivering information is key to retention and building trust.
Keep in mind that emotions are data points, not immediate directives. 📈 📈 📈
They’re signals to notice and consider consciously, not scripts to follow.
But when stress runs high, even the best leaders can lose their edge by reacting instead of responding.
Think about your last challenging moment at work. Did you lead from emotion or intention?
Unchecked emotions can distort your message, weaken your influence, and erode trust.
Staying grounded in your personal power means being aware of what you’re feeling without letting it run the show.
🧭 This week’s reflection:
I encourage you to take 5 minutes to reflect on the following:
➡️ When was the last time you reacted emotionally? How would the grounded version of you have responded instead?
If you are not sure how to ground yourself or are looking to lead from calm clarity and a grounded state of mind, DM me to schedule an exploratory call. Not yet connected with me? 👇🏽 Comment below and I’ll reach out to you. It’s that simple.
#leadership #emotionalintelligence #personaldevelopment #management This month’s weekly newsletters are all part of Strategy #8 for 2025: Get your emotions and reactions in check so that you stay grounded in your own personal power. (More important now than ever!)
We’ve covered the problem (Week 1), the mindset shift (Week 2), the framework (Week 3), and which strategies have been working best for you (Week 4). Now it’s time to act.
As we move into August, I challenge you to build your leadership contingency plan—not out of fear, but from a place of strength and intention.
Your August Challenge: Plan for the Pivot
Target one area where you’re currently “hoping for the best”:
A major project or initiative
Your career trajectory
A team transition
An organizational change
Take some time this week to apply the 4-step framework:
Identify non-negotiables, map your “what ifs,” communicate transparently, plan to debrief.
Why You Need a Plan B, C, and D
One of my consulting clients used this approach in his career growth plan and it changed everything:
His original goal: advance to partner.
The challenge: industry shifts were putting that path at risk.
What we did:
Developed Plans B, C, and D
Clarified his must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
Identified values-aligned companies in his network
Activated his internal mentors to spark new connections
The result?
Within 2 months, he had strong leads on several new roles
His anxiety turned into clarity and momentum
He felt confident and well-positioned—no matter what his company decided
For emerging leaders: Start with your next career move or skill development plan.
For more experienced leaders: Focus on your biggest strategic initiative or leadership transition.
Remember: Great leaders don’t just hope for the best—they plan for the unexpected. When you know how you’ll respond to a pivot, you lead with confidence, not anxiety.
Because leadership isn’t about always getting it all right. It’s about staying ready to adjust and being able to STILL DELIVER.
📣 Taking the challenge this August?
Message me with the area you’re targeting for your leadership contingency plan—I’d love to discuss, help you and cheer you on.
We’re halfway through what continues to be a transformative year of change. Earlier this year, I shared with you six high-impact strategies to help you navigate uncertainty, growth, and transformation.
Let’s take a quick look back: 🧐🧐🧐
Be Ready!
Get Your House In Order
Disrupt Your Own Beliefs & Identity
Resource Yourself Well
Accept What You Cannot Change—Act With Discernment
Challenge Your Assumptions Proactively
How have I used these strategies?
Strategic planning has shifted from quarterly last year to every month this year. Regularly monitoring market and technology changes keeps me on my toes, and I’m finding it invigorating and fun to dynamically flex my life and coaching business.
Decluttering has expanded beyond the physical and digital to my mindset: every single week I’ve been examining the limits of my mindset and intentionally reframing outdated thoughts and beliefs.
Any time I catch myself saying or thinking an absolute about who I am or what I’m capable of, I pause and challenge myself to think more expansively. “I can’t do that” becomes “How could I get that done?”
To uplevel my resources, I’ve invested in a growth consultant. This commitment has shifted me from “this is good enough” to building better skills and ensuring I am taking consistent action to better serve my clients and grow my impact.
There’s nothing like a health crisis to remind us what is and is not in our control. As a parent to a child with an illness, I’ve learned so much this year about what’s most important and what I can let go of.
This one is still a work in progress for me, but more often I’m catching my assumptions. This allows me to make more intentional choices that better serve the moment.
I’d love to hear from you: ➡️ Which of these have you implemented? ➡️ What’s made the biggest impact so far? ➡️ Where are you still feeling challenged?
Your reflections help shape the conversations, tools, and support I offer next.
Hit reply and share your thoughts—or message me directly. Let’s make the second half of this year your most intentional yet.
