Who's in control? You, or your emotions?

Everything I write about is something I've gone through or am currently learning and this topic is something I think is very appropriate for all people, but especially leaders. Keeping a rein on my emotions and not letting those fickle feelings dictate my reactions to people, situations, etc. is something that I have dealt a lot with, and I'd guess that unless you are a robot, at some point in life, you've lost it too. 


In our lives, regardless of our individual levels of freedom, we still have power to respond appropriately in every situation, and to every person with whom we interact. This isn't easy. There may be times where our emotions do not align with how we know we should act. This is where we must make that choice to respond not with what our emotions are doing, but with our brain- with what we know is right.


Just recently I was working on a very complex project to determine all the areas in Customer Service we would need to change and improve in order to support global growth and put together an equally complex spreadsheet of workload forecasts and staffing requirements for all hours of the world.  When I went to present my very complicated spreadsheet to the people who needed answers, I overwhelmed them with information who in turn overwhelmed me with questions.


The appropriate reaction would have been to listen to all the questions and humbly admit that the spreadsheet did not serve its purpose and could we reconvene in a couple days when I could reformat and present this complex information more simply. 


Did I react that way? No.


I reacted emotionally by giving in to the sinking feeling of how much more work I still had to do compounded by my frustration with so many questions being fired at me. Why don't they just get it? I thought to myself. 


Not only is this what I have heard called, "stinkin; thinkin'" but even worse I let it all show when I snapped back and huffed. 


Now, I did apologize later, but the impression was made and I need to gain ground again that was lost in a few short seconds of emotions flying out. 


So, we all mess up, but it's often not until we mess up that we start to get better (through reflected experience- another topic) at controlling our attitude and not letting our emotions control us.