Emotions are an essential part of anyone’s life, and leaders are no exception. Emotional control is necessary for everyone who manages the group in order not to transfer personal insults and disappointments to their team. The modern world dictates a trend towards sincerity in leadership, which means a weakening of emotional control. It is possible to make emotionality and openness a part of the mission of the organization, which will ensure social approval.
Bill Gates is an example of a leader who has learned effective emotional management. People who worked with the Microsoft founder early in his career commented on his intemperance, irritability, and anxiety (Moore, 2021). Bill Gates quickly realized that such behavior could cost him credibility with his colleagues. At the moment, this person appears before the public with a restrained smile, carries himself confidently and speaks with optimism. Emotional management has had a direct impact on Microsoft, allowing it to overcome adversity with dignity. For example, Bill Gates managed to resolve the patent scandal of 2009 not only by paying a fine, but with the help of self-control (Chih-Yi & Bou-Wen, 2021). Calmness and demonstration of confidence, despite the inner feelings of the leader, preserved the image of the company.
An example of a leader who is used to not holding back her emotions is the eco-activist Greta Thunberg. In contrary to Gates, she is expressive, critical and makes accusatory presentations. Thunberg does not care about criticism and other people’s thoughts about her; therefore, she allows herself sharp statements about world politicians (Jung et al., 2020). However, this rough and brash approach made her extremely popular. The goal of Thunberg’s activism was to draw attention to environmental issues, which she managed to achieve through her expressiveness. Emotionality has had a positive effect on her campaign, making her a distinctive leader with an unusual approach. On the one hand, Thunberg regularly faces criticism due to her overly harsh delivery, and some people do not take her seriously. On the other hand, she has managed to gain attention to the problem of climate change from world governments.
Bill Gates, unlike Greta Thunberg, effectively controls his inner emotions. He is an example of a reserved leader who pays more attention to emotional intelligence. However, Thunberg has made emotionality and harshness part of her image and a recognizable detail. Leaders take a diametrically opposite approach, but this does not prevent them from achieving success in their fields. Emotionality is not a bad trait, because it can be made a hallmark of one’s vision.
The examples described above makes clear that emotions are a working tool in the hands of a competent leader. Effective management is an essential and critical quality of any leader. Firstly, to control emotions, leaders need to be able to share their feelings at the right time: this strategy helps build trusting relationships in the team. Instead of hiding negative emotions, leaders need to learn to reflect on them and look for solutions to emotional instability. Finally, leaders should make a clear distinction between work and personal life and not allow one to influence the other emotionally.
Two strategies are possible for effective leadership: emotional self-control and the use of an emotional approach for the benefit of the organization. Emotional control requires high effort, deep reflection and the desire to maintain an authoritative position. Much simpler and more valuable today is the strategy of using an emotional approach to reflect the values of the organization. A leader can demonstrate this behavior by giving inspiring presentations, genuinely caring about the successes and failures of the business, and building trust in the team.
In conclusion, a leader must be able to manage emotions to maintain respect. The most convenient way is to include emotionality in the mission and vision of the organization. With this approach, it will be easier to control self-expressions, customers will be more sympathetic to the brand, and trust will be shared within the team. Emotion management is a critical trait for an effective leader.
References
Chih-Yi, S., & Bou-Wen, L. (2021). Attack and defense in patent-based competition: A new paradigm of strategic decision-making in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 167(1), 1-9. Web.
Jung, J., Petkanic, P., Nan, D., & Kim, J. H. (2020). When a girl awakened the world: A user and social message analysis of Greta Thunberg. Sustainability, 12(7), 1-17. Web.
Moore, D. A. (2021). Perfectly confident leadership. California Management Review, 63(3), 58-69. Web.