Recognizing Emotional Triggers in Decision-Making

Emotions are always in the room when decisions are made. The real question: → Are you in control of how emotions shape your decisions? After years of observing and working with leaders, one truth stands out: Wisdom vs. reactivity isn't about emotion vs. logic—it's about awareness vs. autopilot. (That’s emotional intelligence in action.) Here's what I mean: 5 Signs Emotions Are HIJACKING Your Decisions ↳ Certainty feels absolute, not curious ↳ Black-and-white thinking replaces nuance ↳ Physical signals: tight chest, racing thoughts ↳ Urgency without cause ("We must decide now!") ↳ Needing to be right outweighs finding what’s right 5 Signs Emotions Are INFORMING Your Decisions ↳ Curiosity exists with concern ↳ You feel grounded and present ↳ You can still hear different views ↳ You’re weighing risks and opportunities ↳ You can name the emotion without being hijacked by it The critical element? Self-awareness creates the necessary pause between stimulus and response. When emotions run high, try saying: "I notice I’m feeling [emotion]. What is creating this reaction within me?" That moment of recognition? It’s the core of emotional intelligence. Great leaders don’t ignore emotion. They embrace it to understand it. What’s a cue that tells you emotion is hijacking your decisions?

Have you ever stopped to think about how your childhood experiences show up at work? Maybe you had a parent who, when you made a mistake, gave you that sharp, self-critical “what is wrong with you?” glare. Maybe you’re not even sure you remember it. It’s more like a feeling. A flash of tightness in your chest. A heaviness that shows up when you get feedback or feel dismissed. Here’s the thing: triggers aren’t just about what’s happening now. They’re about what happened then. When you feel criticized, rejected, or dismissed at work, it’s not just about the present moment. It’s about everything that moment brings up from the past. Maybe you freeze, shut down, or feel paralyzed. Or maybe you snap back, get defensive, or raise your voice. That’s not you being irrational or dramatic. It’s your brain doing exactly what it was wired to do — to protect you from something that once felt too big or overwhelming. Triggers are stories from our past replaying in the present moment. They’re emotional echoes of experiences you may not even fully remember. But your body remembers. And it reacts — trying to protect you from feeling “not enough” all over again. Understanding your triggers isn’t about “dwelling” in the past — and it isn’t about blaming your parents. It’s about recognizing when old patterns from your childhood are playing out in your adulthood. Because once you see them, you can carve out a different path forward.

I've been in countless tense team moments where emotions threatened to derail everything. The physiological response is real—racing heart, flushed face, mind suddenly blank. What I've learned is that our brains literally work differently when emotions take over. The amygdala (the ancient survival center) floods our system with stress hormones, and suddenly our prefrontal cortex—where all our thoughtful leadership skills live—goes offline. My most effective technique for these moments is incredibly simple yet powerful: 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. When I notice tension rising (in myself or others), I might say: "I'm noticing I'm feeling defensive right now, and need a moment to gather my thoughts." "It seems like emotions are running high. Let's pause and take a deep breath together." This isn't about suppressing feelings—it's about acknowledging them so they don't control the conversation. Neuroscience confirms that simply naming emotions reduces their intensity. Most importantly, this practice models what emotional intelligence looks like in action, showing your team that emotions aren't something to fear or avoid, but natural responses we can work with constructively. What's your go-to technique for managing emotions during challenging team moments? Share your practice. P.S. If you’re a leader, I recommend checking out my free upcoming challenge: The Resilient Leader: 28 Days to Thrive in Uncertainty  https://lnkd.in/gxBnKQ8n #EmotionalIntelligence #TeamDynamics #DifficultConversations #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceWellness