By Susan Battley

When does emotion help an executive transcend to a higher level of leadership, and when does it undermine credibility and effectiveness? What are the pros and cons of leaders exhibiting emotions?

Whether male or female, it's all about consistently projecting control, strength, and confidence.

Perceived loss of emotional control erodes a leader's credibility, as does tentativeness or indecision. Similarly, a perceived lack of compassion is likely to be interpreted negatively as insensitivity. In public situations, the range of emotions expressed needs to be modulated and appropriate to the occasion.

Thirteen Leadership Tactics for Leveraging Emotion Positively

1. Keep your cool.
2. Address people's feelings up front.
3. Show that you care.
4. Make your case: explain what, why, and how.
5. Paint a picture of what success looks like.
6. Use "we" rather than "I."
7. Be honest about what you know and don't know.
8. Focus on what can be done and what needs to be done.
9. Set expectations about effort, attitude, and time required.
10. State the message frequently.
11. Provide regular updates.
12. Publicize short-term wins and progress indicators.
13. Don't act defensively.

Bottom Line: Emotion can be a leader's best friend or worst enemy, depending on whether it supports or overwhelms executive decision making and communication.  Leaders need to show that they care before they can expect people to care about what they say or know.

Copyright © Susan Battley, PsyD, PhD. All rights reserved.