Losing your edge is rarely a lack of capability. Or ambition. Or work ethic. High performers don’t suddenly become less intelligent or worthy.
They lose clarity. Things change, uncertainty creeps in, pressure increases, decisions stack up.
And instead of leaning into trusting our emotions, sensing and accepting the change, and then adapting to fit the new territory, instead we tighten up, or push harder in the same direction as before.
But high performance doesn’t come from blindly pushing.
It comes from reading the emotional cues, and mobilising yourself more effectively allowing you to think clearly.
Often the first thing to go under sustained pressure.
But it doesn’t have to.
Building your emotional intelligence isn’t about working harder, it’s about working smarter – by staying open to emotional information.
Not to be overwhelmed but understanding how to deal with it.
Trusting that it’s merely an extension of what you already do and know well.
This emotional information becomes more important as we chart new territory. The mind has its maps, but the emotions help us truly navigate.
This is the leader’s edge
#emotionalselfawareness #flexibility #adapting