As everyone has pivoted to virtual conferences and meetings over the past few months, IUAA took its annual Cream and Crimson conference virtual too, offering alumni volunteers training opportunities throughout the month of June (links coming soon).

In week 3, my fellow coach Erin Erwin and I presented a leadership topic of “Leading through Crisis,” discussing strategies for understanding high emotions through neuroscience, strengthening team communication, and building team trust virtually. Here are some of our favorite takeaways from the session we hope you can implement as a leader wherever or with whomever you lead.

1. Take power over your emotional response​. When you have an emotional response, your amygdala (fight or flight center of your brain) hijacks your logical, analytical ability to think and respond clearly in the prefrontal cortex. When you feel anxious or triggered, do your best to name the emotion in order to tame it. You take power over the emotion when you can accurately identify it, strengthening your emotional intelligence and your ability to open up the prefrontal cortex’s logical reasoning.
2. “What does it look like through their perspective?”​  Another strategy to redirect the amygdala hijack is to reframe the situation. What is not unique about this situation? What can I learn here? And, most importantly as we consider how we engage with our diverse body of IU alumni, what does it look like through their perspective? Take yourself (and your emotions) out of the situation and reframe it through a different perspective.
3. Building trust and psychological safety​. When teams are remote and cannot be physically together, team communication can suffer. By prioritizing trust building and establishing psychological safety, your team can remain engaged at a higher level. Brené Brown shares that vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, and vulnerability happens in trusting, safe spaces. As we pivot to accomplish new things in new ways, in order to keep your team nimble and up to the task, prioritize the investment of their trust and their sense of safety.
4. Get curious! One of the top leadership traits of the 21^st century is curiosity. When you find yourself triggered, use the phrases “tell me more” and “help me understand…” to gain greater awareness of what is happening then sit back and listen. Getting defensive, dismissive, or jumping into action without clarifying the situation can damage trust, leave expectations unmet, build unwanted resentment, and much more.

Our team of coaches want you to thrive in your professional life as well as in your role as an IUAA volunteer leader. You likely play a leadership role in many facets of your life, and we encourage you to consider leading a “practice” that is ongoing and never mastered. Adopting this growth mindset of learning and self-awareness will be an intentional step in your continued leadership development.

Want to connect with our coaches for a customized leadership development strategy? Visit www.iualumnicareers.com or email iuaacpd@indiana.edu for more information and a free 15 minute intake call.