Emotional awareness

Learning to recognize and respond appropriately to emotions — both your own and others' — creates a foundation for authentic workplace relationships and better decision-making.

Here's how to develop emotional awareness:

• Begin with self-awareness by implementing regular emotional check-ins throughout your day. Take a moment before meetings to assess your emotional state. Practice labeling emotions specifically (”pride” or ”frustration” instead of just "good" or "bad") and notice physical sensations that accompany different emotional states. Track your energy levels and emotional patterns in a simple log^.[1]
• Learn to read team dynamics by observing non-verbal cues and changes in communication patterns. Watch for shifts in participation levels, altered tone of voice, or unusual silence. Notice when team energy drops or rises during different activities. Pay attention to emotional undercurrents during meetings and decision-making processes.
• Respond appropriately to emotional situations using validation and acknowledgment. When you notice emotional tension, pause and name what you observe without judgment. Use phrases like "I notice there's some hesitation" or "It seems this topic brings up strong feelings."
• Most importantly, create space for emotions without immediately jumping to solutions. For example, instead of "Here's what you should do...," try "Would it help to talk through what you're feeling before we discuss next steps?"