99. Emotional Regulation: Create a Calm Confident Environment

Everyone experiences a variety of emotions throughout the day. Whether it’s anxiety before a dentist appointment, excitement when we find $20 in our pocket, or disappointment when our favorite coffee cup breaks, emotions come and go—and it’s entirely normal.   There’s no such thing as a good or bad emotion. They’re just feelings that come and go like clouds passing in the sky.   But for some people, emotions aren’t always just clouds—they’re storms that ravage the land, causing destruction in their wake.    When people experience emotions more intensely and frequently than normal, to the detriment of their relationships with others, it means they struggle with what’s called emotional regulation.   Emotional regulation is the ability to control your emotional state. It’s understanding that emotions impact behavior and then taking the appropriate  action to alter the intensity of your emotional experience.   So, when a teacher shows up late, someone who practices good emotional regulation would recognize the anger that arises and let it pass before it negatively affects the way they respond.   On the other hand, someone who struggles with emotional regulation might become consumed by the anger and take their emotions out on the teacher, potentially damaging the goodwill between them.   As a leader, you’ve probably seen your fair share of instances like these. And maybe you’ve felt frustrated by someone’s inability to keep their emotions in check and simply follow the protocol.   The problem is, an SOP can’t change the way a person’s nervous system has been trained to react in tense situations.    So, what can you do to help your staff better regulate their emotions and transform your center’s culture?   In this week’s podcast episode, we’ll explore the answer to that very question. The final part of my B.R.I.D.G.E. series focuses on the skills and strategies you need to help your staff master emotional regulation.   Join me for a conversation about:   What emotional regulation is Why people lose control of their emotions How emotional regulation impacts performance and work culture The 5 skills for mastering emotional regulation How to identify and reduce triggers   With lots of practice and proper modeling, you can show your staff how to control their own emotional state, improve the culture of your center, and create generational impact and legacy. Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic    Learning how to role model these skills for your staff is no easy task, but it’s well worth the effort. Join our Owner’s Only HQ or Director’s Inner Circle programs to get support and strategies from like-minded leaders like you who are experiencing the same challenges. Their stores and insights can guide you as you work toward building a school of excellence. More about the show: If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent...