Show Up

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some ideas with you from the research and researchers that we follow. Last week, in our post called Curiosity is Key, we gave some suggestions from Brené Brown.
 
Today, we’re continuing our discussion about psychological safety, with thoughts from Susan David, on the importance of emotional agility and showing up for your teams.
 
Ms. David defines emotional agility as, “a process that enables us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind.”
 
So, what does this have to do with psychologi­­cal safety and showing up for your teams?
 
There is considerable information out there that says the most successful leaders use the whole of themselves to lead. When you do, you’re modeling for your team that it’s safe to be vulnerable. It’s safe to talk about successes, challenges, and even the kinds of support they need to excel.

As you think about starting conversations with your team around culture and psychological safety, David suggests asking people to share their answers to the following questions:

• What have I done lately that scared me?
• What have I tried lately and failed?
• When did I last step out of my comfort zone?

One of the hardest things about being human is that we feel so many emotions in response to both our internal life and external life. Few of us have been taught how to navigate these feelings by learning from them while not being held hostage by them.

✴️ Consider using one or more of the above questions to open a conversation with your team and learn more about them and at the same time, begin to lead with psychological safety and emotional agility.

Reach out if we can be helpful.