Emotions, success and a touch of chaos

Managing feelings and emotions in leadership situations is of great importance. A key question is whether negative or even toxic elements remain in the leadership relationship between managers and staff, or whether they are sufficiently ‘mitigated’. The question arises as to what extent current leadership tools can help to neutralise negative or toxic elements and generate positive energy in the leadership relationship between managers and employees. It is also important to consider the extent to which current leadership mechanisms take human emotions into account.

Anyone in a leadership role must be prepared for human emotions. Far too little attention is paid to this fact in leadership training and staff selection, even though this area encompasses the key aspects of future leadership work and leadership success. It is important to take into account the individuality and life stage of each employee. In leadership situations, it is inevitable that conflicts, obstacles, bad luck, challenges, resistance, disappointments and mistrust will arise. It is therefore important to be mindful of feelings and emotions in leadership situations and to deal with them carefully in order to lead successfully.

Why are the recognition and management of feelings and emotions so important in leadership situations? Because the likelihood that you, as a manager, will always succeed in leading effectively is lower than the proportion of leadership situations in which confrontations arise. This book attempts to rethink the mechanics and training of leadership, as well as staff appraisal. It is not a self-help guide, but rather a source of inspiration and an opportunity for reflection for managers.