I don’t get too high, I don’t get too low….

Towards the end of President Obama’s time in office he was interviewed about how he manages the stress of his job. He talks about exercise, dinner with his family, keeping a long-term perspective but also that “I don’t get too high, don’t get too low.” I remember hearing him say that at the time and wondering, can that type of emotional control be taught or is it something you are born with?

Revisiting this now, I also wonder if it is something you acquire? If the accumulation of daily challenges and fire-fighting helps you build a broader emotional bandwidth, though the opposite can also be true!

As a leader of any size team you are being be watched and your responses or reactions will influence those around you. It is the same in a family. It is impossible to get it right every time; but sometimes just the act of trying to control your emotions sends an important signal to those around you.

If you have a view on emotional control as the leader or it’s something you want to discuss, drop me a note. Like many of the facets of leadership; it’s an issue with no right or wrong answer.