How to avoid emotional outbursts and losing control under stress

One of the most valuable attributes of a good business professional and leader is to be able to control emotional outbursts, to maximize your credibility and respect, and to maintain your own health.

Commit to the following strategies to keep cool:

1. Train yourself to always look for positives.

Optimistic business leaders see value in every new business challenge, rather than stress and risk.

2. Write down your top 5 core values and review them often.

Pressure and emotion in business is often an indication of core value conflicts. Once you see and understand the conflict, it’s easier to make a decision, respond rationally, or simply remove yourself from the role.

3. Create a short to-do list at the beginning of each day. 4. Never schedule more than 80 percent of your time. 5. Put more focus on building the right relationships.

Find time in your work schedule for networking, where you can test your ideas, learn, and generate support.

6. Define a clear break between work and private activities.

Practice a ritual, such as a cup of coffee with a peer, to define your workday beginning, and maybe tea with your spouse to reset to family time. Use the transition to reset stress pressures and emotions.

7. Take satisfaction from wins to balance against setbacks. 8. Maintain at least one non-work passion for energy balance.

Emotional outbursts and losing one’s cool are often indicative of burnout.