Issue 44: Emotional Resilience After A Tough Election

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." — Maya Angelou

Welcome to this week’s issue. I’ve changed the focus of this week's newsletter given recent events.

First off, how are you?

After a long, intense election season, it’s normal to feel a range of emotions—disappointment, frustration, worry, and even exhaustion. For nurse and physician leaders, these feelings can feel especially heavy as you balance personal responses with your professional responsibilities. Elections impact everyone, and in healthcare, the stakes are often deeply personal.

In tough times like these, staying grounded is crucial. Emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage your own emotions—can help you navigate these moments and continue to lead effectively. When you can remain steady and centered, you're a source of calm and strength for your team, even when it feels like everything is up in the air.

Here’s What It Looks Like When Emotional Intelligence Feels Out of Reach:

• Personal stress starts to spill over: Feeling discouraged or frustrated about the larger political climate might start to affect your energy and mood at work. When personal stress mixes with the pressures of leadership, your team can sense it, which creates added stress for them as well.

• Reacting instead of responding: After a tense election, emotions are heightened, and it’s easy to react to challenges—big or small—with more intensity than usual. These snap reactions lead to misunderstandings, create tension on your team, or even impact patient care.

• Diminished leadership presence: When external stress takes a toll, it's harder to fully show up for your team. Your team looks to you for stability, but when you’re feeling unsettled and unstable yourself, it's hard to maintain that strong, steady presence.

What To Do Instead:

• Pause and acknowledge your emotions: Give yourself permission to feel whatever is coming up for you—frustration, disappointment, or even anger and fear. Taking a moment to recognize these feelings helps you process them, rather than suppressing them. Processing your emotions can keep them from overwhelming you and spilling over. 

  Here are some reflection questions to get you started:

  • What emotions have come up for you since the election, and how are you processing them?

  • Is there a personal value or belief that feels more important to you now than ever? How might you center this right now?

  • What gives you hope right now, even if it feels small?

  • Have you seen any acts of kindness or unity lately? How has that impacted you?

  • What strengths can you rely on to move forward?

• Stay connected and empathize: Remember you’re not alone in this. Your team may also be feeling discouraged or emotionally drained. Use your position as a leader to empathize and support each other in creating a safe, steady environment where you can focus together on the work that matters most.

• Reflect on what’s within your control: Ground yourself by focusing on what you can control right now. Whether it’s providing the best possible care to patients, supporting your team, or just modeling resilience, directing your energy toward things you can influence will help you feel some sense of purpose and calm, even when the bigger picture feels crappy.

Ready to Strengthen Your Emotional Resilience?

If staying grounded is particularly challenging right now in this post-election period, reach out to me. Let’s work together to develop emotional resilience strategies tailored for you and everything life throws at you this next year.

In a consultation, we’ll explore tools to help you lead with clarity, reduce stress, and stay centered so you can be a source of stability for your team—even in chaotic times. Together, we’ll make sure you have what you need to continue leading with strength, EQ, and empathy.

Next Week's Preview:

Next week, we’ll go back to our previously scheduled topic on decision-making under pressure.

Until then, consider what one small action you can take this week to focus on what you can control—and let that ground you and your team.

I’m in your corner.

Go out there and lead,

Asia

PS - Shhh. I have a special 1:1 coaching deal through the end of the year. You don't need to wait until Black Friday and you don't need to stand in line overnight! Schedule a consultation.