Emotional Leadership

Posted Under: Blog

Jul 29 2016

Every leader has their own style of leadership and there is lots written about being ‘authentic’ and leading with ‘integrity’, and of course this takes time to develop.

What I’ve noticed is that sometimes leaders can get a bit stuck in their career transition and associated ‘Leadership Behaviours’.

The general consensus seems to be that a leader should be calm and in control -‘professional’. No one wants a leader who is out of control, or over reacting to every situation.

As leaders progress in their careers, I see them learn to listen, to be thoughtful and considered. They take the time to be able to see all perspectives, and this takes patience and several very deep breaths! For the most part this pattern of behaviour serves them well – then they get to the part where they need to be inspirational and lead a team, a department, or a company.

Now they have to show passion, energy, and determination to create ‘followship’. But for some the controlled ‘professional’ behaviour pattern is a tough one to break. Whilst caring passionately about what they do, they are confused when they are described as coming across as distant, disinterested or ambivalent to situations.

Their learned behaviour has taught them that over use of ‘emotions’ is not a good thing.

This is where I help them see a subtle difference between ‘expressing emotions’ and ‘displaying emotions’. To express an emotion is to articulate what is happening – “I feel very concerned about…. I am anxious about……. I am really excited by………”. To display an emotion is to enter into it and let rip! However as with all things, there is a balance.

Learning to express emotion in the leadership space lets others know what you are feeling and to get your sense of urgency, passion, disappointment etc. They feel your heart beat – they get it and they get you.

Annie, x

 

  • “Annie is an exceptional coach, mentor and trainer/facilitator. Having attended one of her courses on coaching and mentoring I was fortunate and privileged to be able to join her as co-coach for further training and saw for myself the dedication and attention to detail she puts into her work. Her heightened sense of perception ensures that everything she does meets the needs of those around her. Annie is highly motivating and always shows an innate belief that each of us has the potential to achieve our goals, especially when we think we can't! She is professional and a role model for a "can do" attitude and continues to inspire me in my coaching.”

  • “Annie is the consumate professional. She provides measurable Executive Coaching interventions in a very personable style.”

    MD of Utilities Company
  • “Annie balances a professional approach with a warm and caring attitude, and this is evident in the workshops we have run together. She is fun to work with and focuses on generating great results for her clients.”

    Development Consultant
  • “Annie is an engaging, authentic and warm hearted workshop leader. She is the consummate professional in that she delivers to the brief, exceeds expectations and has boundless energy and enthusiasm that captures the attention and interest of the participants. As an executive coach, Annie truly connects with her clients and brings her wealth of knowledge and experience to the sessions which ensures clients leave feeling that they got great value and are able to achieve exceptional results.”

    HR Director IT Company
  • “I have worked with Annie as a client both professionally in my capacity of Learning and Development Director at Centrica and personally as a professional, personal to me on a coaching programme. Annie is empathetic, professional and a great coach, I would recommend her to any client or company.”

    Learning & Development Director, Centrica
  • “The coaching was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to grow in their professional environment.”

    Director at Open University
  • “The coach was very relaxed and could immediately empathise with any given situation, whilst being able to give constructive help. Annie very quickly grasped where my strengths and weaknesses lay and could gauge challenging situations very well – only an experienced coach can do this.”

    MD Financial Services
  • “Annie’s challenges enforced reflection on my thought processes and therefore my behaviour patterns. A very satisfying experience.”

    Director Open University
  • “Quantum have provided a very professional and friendly service. The requirements we have requested have been very specific and individual to our companies needs, and Quantum have gone out of their way to understand these requirements and organise and develop the training accordingly. Annie Richardson is always very professional and is also well received by all those who attend her courses. Quantum is a delight to work with and I would strongly recommend their services to anyone wishing to develop their company’s development initiatives further.”

    ICRH Group Leader, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
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