While it’s normal to have negative thoughts and feelings, as a manager, you need to be aware of the effect your emotions have on your team. This is because your team members will often take their cues from you – if you’re angry or agitated, they’ll notice and start to worry about what’s going on. The more upset you are, the more everyone will be on edge and unsure of how to proceed. When your mood dips, it can adversely affect those around you, even if you don’t mean for it to. Your team may be hesitant to ask questions or make demands out of fear of upsetting you further. If this is something you’re struggling with, think back to when you were in a similar position as your junior team members. How did your line manager’s anger impact you?
There are many studies from the past few decades that suggest work-climate has a direct impact on team performance and company financial results, as noted in “Managers who lead: a handbook for improving health services.”
We all know that happy employees make for a productive workplace, but did you know that there is a direct correlation between employee happiness and a company’s bottom line? According to the study above, when job satisfaction goes down by 1%, the financial results of the company go down by 2.5%. So it pays (literally) to be aware of your thoughts and feelings, and take action to change them if they are negative.
One way to do this is to practice meditation or mindfulness. This will help you to be more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and learn how to control them. If you’re not sure where to start, there are many apps and websites that offer guidance on meditation and mindfulness. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised at how much better you feel, both mentally and physically.
Another way to control your negative thoughts and feelings is to take action on the things that are causing them. For example, if you’re feeling stressed about a project, talk to your boss about it and see if there’s anything that can be done to lighten your load. If you’re worried about a team member’s performance, have a one-on-one meeting with them to see what support they need from you. Dealing with the root cause of your negative thoughts and feelings will help you to control them, rather than letting them control you.
Negative thoughts and feelings are normal, but as a manager, you need to be aware of the impact they can have on your team. By practicing meditation or mindfulness, and taking action on the things that are causing your negative thoughts and feelings, you can control them rather than letting them control you. This will create a more positive work environment for everyone, and lead to better company financial results.