Rational Thinking Falling Short? Harness Your Emotional Signals For Better Results

Why emotionally aware leaders make better decisions under pressure.

You’ve built a successful career. You can analyze complex problems, create effective solutions, and work diligently to deliver results.
And yet, you may find yourself baffled when others don’t “see the right thing to do”—when colleagues play politics, get defensive, or react emotionally.

That can feel frustrating.

As a VP or a Director, you’re expected to obtain buy-in and collaborate across functions to implement top leadership decisions. With AI adoption accelerating and priorities constantly shifting, that challenge feels even greater.

So, is there a better way to navigate these dynamics?

Yes—there is. The short answer is emotions.

Emotions are the hidden players in the room. They influence how people listen, engage, and make decisions. Becoming aware of your own and others’ emotions can make you far more effective in leading, collaborating, and influencing.

The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Emotions: Less Optimal Solutions

Many of us grew up believing emotions were inconvenient—or even dangerous. We saw anger, rage, or tears create chaos, so we learned to suppress emotions altogether.

I was no exception. Growing up in an Eastern culture, I was taught to follow norms and maintain harmony. Expressing anger or dissent felt wrong. Over time, I mastered fitting in rather than tuning in.

That approach kept me out of trouble—but as an adult, I realized I was ill-equipped for constructive dialogue when multiple perspectives clashed. I either forced my view (creating tension) or suppressed it (breeding resentment). Neither approach allowed me—or others—to build richer, collaborative solutions.

Deep inside, I sensed I was missing something.

Avoiding Emotions is like ignoring someone’s call

Avoiding emotions is like ignoring a phone call from someone because you fear the conversation will be messy. You tell yourself, “I’ll deal with it later,” but you might miss valuable information.

Or consider the anxiety of not opening an email for fear of bad news. Avoidance may feel protective in the short term, but it ultimately robs us of clarity and choice. We end up making decisions with incomplete data and wonder why the outcomes fall short.

Emotions are not drama—they’re data. They carry messages about what truly matters to us.

So how does it help with layoffs, AI disruptions

Our bodies often detect threat or unease long before our minds can articulate it. Yet, analytical professionals often dismiss these subtle cues, unaware that they quietly shape their behaviors and tone. Emotional awareness means reading and understanding your body’s early message before taking an action. 

You may ask: How does this help when real-world pressures—like layoffs, AI disruptions, or volatile markets—feel overwhelming?

Noticing physical sensations (the somatic side of emotions) doesn’t remove external threats. But it helps you choose how to respond. Instead of reacting from anxiety or fear, you can ground yourself, access your full intelligence, and make more balanced decisions.

For instance, when you hear about possible layoffs, unprocessed fear or anger might spill onto your loved ones. With awareness, you can pause, soothe yourself, and respond with clarity instead of reactivity.

Emotions Are Guides—They Speak Through the Body

Distressing emotions are like the “check engine” light on your dashboard—they alert you that something important needs attention.

When we notice them early, we can act before the situation worsens. If you struggle to sense your emotions, try this one-minute body scan:

Step 1: Scan for Sensations

• Sit or stand comfortably.
• Breathe in gently and slowly scan your body from your feet upward.
• Notice sensations in your legs, gut, chest, shoulders, and face. Are your muscles tight or relaxed? Warm or cold? Heavy or light?

Common physical signs of distress include a Tight chest or shallow breathing (indicating anxiety or fear), and a Restless heart or clenched fists (signifying anger or urgency).
For analytical minds, developing body awareness can be a gradual process. “I don’t feel anything” is a normal first response. Be patient—awareness grows with practice.

Step 2: Bring the Body to a Relaxed State

• Continue slow breathing, this time exhaling through your mouth. Notice how your shoulders and abdomen naturally drop toward gravity.
• Repeat this exercise three or more times until your body feels calmer and more grounded.

This simple exercise helps build emotional awareness, enabling you to recognize subtle cues before they escalate.

Four Steps to Navigate Emotional Storms

1. Regulate the Body
Use your breath (as I described above), stretching, or gentle movement, such as walking or running, to calm your nervous system before analyzing the situation. Writing down the anxious thoughts (journaling) often works for some. A regulated body helps the brain think clearly and prevents overreaction.

2. Take Micro-Actions
Reduce unfamiliarity with small, safe steps. Any micro-action—sending a message, asking a question, conducting a dry run, or visiting the meeting room ahead of time—helps lower anxiety far more effectively than sitting in rumination. Small movements signal to your nervous system that you’re safe and in control.

3. Reframe the Mindset
Identify the root fear and look at it from a more balanced perspective. Ask yourself:

• “What else might be true?”
  
• “How might this situation help me grow?”
  
• This cognitive shift helps restore perspective and prevents tunnel vision during stress.

4. Focus on What You Can Control
Worrying about outcomes beyond your control—What if I don’t get the job? What if I bomb the presentation?—only fuels anxiety. Instead, center your attention on what’s within reach: how you prepare, how you show up, and how you care for your physical, emotional, and mental state.

You can’t dictate how others will react or decide, but you can influence your own readiness and response. Some people find strength through spiritual grounding, while others find it through tangible actions, such as making alternative plans. Choose what helps you reconnect with steadiness.

You won’t always need all four, but keeping them in mind helps you stay resourceful.

Real-life Examples

1. Recovering from a Traumatic Accident

After a traumatic car experience, anxiety can feel unbearable. Instead of forcing yourself back on the road, treat anxiety as a wound—your body’s way of protecting you.
Therapist Britt Frank suggests using micro-actions, such as sitting in a parked car or bringing it to the road and moving it back to the garage, to gradually rebuild trust in your body. Forcing it too soon can retraumatize the nervous system.

2. Managing Interview Nerves

Feeling nervous before a job interview doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means the opportunity matters.
Rather than suppressing anxiety, view it as information: something important is at stake.
If the pressure feels paralyzing—“My family depends on this job”—acknowledge that burden and explore backup scenarios. Realistic contingency planning reduces emotional intensity.

Consider a sports analogy: during a World Cup Soccer penalty kick, if the player thinks, “This shot determines the world title,” the pressure will crush performance. If they reframe it as, “I’ll focus on executing my best kick; the rest is beyond my control,” composure returns.

3. Presenting in High-Stakes Meetings

One of my clients used to freeze in meetings with senior executives, fearing judgment and reputational harm. Together, we reframed these meetings as opportunities for guidance and alignment, not tests of competence.
That shift turned her anxiety into curiosity—her presence became more confident and authentic.

Example micro-actions: Practicing it with one leader with whom you are more comfortable. 

If the meeting room is unfamiliar, visit the room and the podium a few days before the event to become familiar with them.

The Courage to Feel

Emotions evolved to help humans survive. For our ancestors, a rustling sound in the bushes triggered fear—a lifesaving signal to run.

Today, those same signals are activated by a boss’s frown, a high-stakes presentation, or a stock market dip. Without awareness, we react from those primal fears—often making poor decisions.

Avoiding emotions may feel safe, but it costs us growth, connection, and authenticity.
Emotional awareness doesn’t erase challenges—it equips us to face them with composure and wisdom.

So next time you feel that tension in your chest or the pit in your stomach—pause.
Your emotions aren’t the enemy; they’re your early warning system.
Listen. Learn. And lead from that awareness.

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Related reading: Why EQ Matters And How To Be Better At It

Featured Image by Elisa from Pixabay