Sharpen your emotional edge.

Welcome to this week's edition of "The EQ Edge." Today, we explore disappointment.

 Emotion Spotlight

DISAPPOINTMENT

“If you want a connection - communicate.
 If you want disappointment - make them guess.” - Sara Kuburic

Expectations - Reality = ?

When what we hope for doesn't match reality, we feel disappointed. It's a tough lesson that makes us think about what we expect and how we set limits.

I bet you've had times when you wished things went perfectly or thought someone understood without you saying much. Disappointment tells us to be clearer in how we talk to ourselves and others. Because, words shape our ‘expected’ reality. Disappointment is our communication coach, who instructs us in the nuances of effective communication.

Understanding DISAPPOINTMENT

Definition: Feeling of sadness that arise when hopes or expectations aren't met.

Message: "Recalibrate your expectations, realign with reality."

Feeling: A sinking feeling in the heart or stomach. A sense of loss or unmet expectations.

DISAPPOINTMENT in Leadership

As a leader, you can use disappointment to identify gaps in communication and alignment. It's a sign that there's room to improve how you share your message and set expectations with your team. When outcomes fall short, it often means the message wasn't clear. Embracing this feedback helps refine your communication approach, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Useful when:

• Reflecting on and learning from unmet goals or outcomes.
• Reassessing strategies and approaches.
• Building resilience and adaptability within the team.
• Encouraging open dialogue about challenges and setbacks.

Not useful when: 

Dwelling on disappointment can lead to demotivation and hinder strategy adjustments and new goal-setting. To move forward, leaders can:

1. View setbacks as learning chances.
2. Plan clear actions for improvement.
3. Get feedback to find better approaches for the future.

Communication tips: 

• Clarify the Message: "Let's ensure our goals and expectations are clearly communicated from the start."
• Open Dialogue: "I encourage everyone to share their thoughts and concerns. This helps us understand where we might have misaligned expectations."
• Feedback Loop: "If something wasn't clear or didn't meet expectations, let's discuss it. Your feedback helps us refine our communication."
• Embrace Learning: "Every setback is a learning opportunity. Let's use it to improve our strategies and communication."
• Stay Aligned: "Regular check-ins will ensure we're all on the same page and moving in the right direction."

🌟 Weekly Exercise:

Reflect on a recent disappointment. Write down "Disappointment = Expectations - Reality" on paper. List what you anticipated under "Expectations" and what actually happened under "Reality." Compare the two and ask yourself, "What needs to be communicated?" Use this insight to identify steps for clearer communication in future situations.

As we wrap up this week's edition of "The EQ Edge," remember that every emotion, including disappointment, offers insights. It's up to us to leverage them effectively. 

How will you use your newly found communication coach? 

Thank you for joining us in this exploration. We eagerly await your thoughts and experiences.

Until next week, stay sharp and emotionally attuned!

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