When emotions take over: it’s time to regain control

You manage your schedule. You perform well in meetings. But all it takes is a look, an email, or a careless word… and your whole system goes off balance.


Anger, anxiety, frustration, guilt, shame, or emotional overload — emotions flow through you, whether they’re yours or someone else’s. And as long as you can’t read them, they run the show. Unconsciously.

That’s where emotional psychosocial skills come in — particularly PSC 9: Understanding emotions and stress.


New family, new dynamic

You’ve now entered the second big family of PSCs: emotional skills.
These aren’t just “soft skills.” They’re levers for regulation, cooperation, and performance — especially when pressure rises or tensions appear.


Understanding emotions and stress (PSC 9) isn’t about “controlling” or “suppressing” your emotions. It’s about:

  • Recognizing them when they arise (in yourself and others)

  • Understanding their origin and role

  • Anticipating their impact on behavior, decisions, and relationships

And that often starts… with vocabulary.


Why it’s strategic for leaders

A leader who can’t identify the emotions at play risks:

  • Misinterpreting their team’s reactions

  • Being carried away without understanding why

  • Missing subtle warning signs that precede tensions

👉 Understanding emotions and stress allows you to intervene before a problem escalates, without falling into overinterpretation or overcontrol.


It’s a mindset of observation — not avoidance, not reaction. Just clear understanding and space to adjust.


A starting point, not a diagnosis

You don’t need to be a psychologist to develop this skill. You just need to:

  • Learn to name what you feel (and what others might feel)

  • Link emotions to situations, context, or stress

  • Recognize that what isn’t expressed still leaves a mark

Emotions are indicators. They’re not good or bad — it’s how we read them (or don’t) that makes the difference.


🎯 Micro-action of the day: The emotional ABCs


👉 Ask yourself three times a day: “What am I feeling right now?”
Go beyond “I’m fine / I’m not fine.” Use an emotion wheel or a list of feelings. For example:

  • Irritated, disappointed, motivated, curious, worried, relieved?

  • What need is linked to this emotion?

  • What context might be triggering it?

You’ve just begun developing PSC 9 – Understanding emotions and stress.

See you tomorrow for the next step — and if you need to talk it through before then, I’m here.
Krumma