Emotions get a bad rap!
We are told not to get emotional when making business decisions.
Be rational. Yet it is irrational to deny our emotions.
As humans our emotions are inextricably linked with how we react to events, engage with others, inspire followers, attract customers and indeed make decisions.
We ignore, suppress or dismiss our emotions at our peril. If we don’t name, validate and explore our emotions they will come back to bite us.
In our book, “Humble Crumbles: Savouring the crumbs of wisdom from the rise and fall of Humble Pie” @PaulO’Donnell and I explore his journey as an entrepreneur starting up and voluntarily closing down his premium pie business.
In many ways Paul was the role model of a rational businessman. He was methodical, researched his idea extensively, took time to start up his business, created plans with positive, negative and neutral scenarios. He assembled an advisory board, reached out to his vast network and could rely on his financial and accounting expertise.
Yet he had blind spots which impaired his decision making. Some of those blind spots revolved around his lack of awareness of his moods and emotions. For example, his passion and ambition caused him to dismiss “positive naysayers”. And his fear of failure caused him to hang on for longer when changing course earlier might have resulted in different outcomes.
How do you enhance your decision making by recognising your emotions?
When did a lack of awareness of your emotions result in poor decsions?
Are you a leader or entrepreneur who is curious about how to engage with your emotions to enhance rather than impair your decision-making contact me sylvana@sylvanacaloni.com or +44 (0) 7952 068133.
