The Spartans believed in two (mental) rooms you must not enter in battle – fear and anger. Fear makes you a coward, anger makes you a fool. In stressful situations do you tend toward cowardice (avoid the discussion, soft pedal the truth) or the foolishness that comes from anger (brash, headstrong, unwilling to listen to feedback, defensive)? Either one makes you a poor leader in some of the most crucial moments. Both are a failure to master the self.
For a long time anger was my default directional error, and I knew it needed work. I read Anger Trap (highly recommend if you’ve got an anger problem). I worked my ass off to pre-load for the things that would set me off- to defuse the bomb – and even more importantly to actually address why I was getting angry in the first place and totally dismantle the proverbial bomb. Perhaps one of the things I’m most proud of. It’s rare I get angry now and if I do it’s intentional and purposeful, and I’m in control of it.
That dismantling took some damn hard work and a lot of reps. So will your cowardice, your anger, or whatever struggle is on your plate. It won’t get better by avoiding it or feeling bad about it. Get started and get better. Giddy up.
BUILT TO LEAD 