Surely on many occasions, now that human behavior issues have been given more visibility and space, you will have heard the term self control. What does this term mean and imply?
Let’s start from the fact that emotions are an essential part of the human being, they are always present at any moment of life. Knowing how to express and manage them is the basis of the so-called emotional intelligence, in which the self control emotional.
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) conceptualizes the self control such as controlling one’s own impulses and reactions. In a broader and more specialized definition, the self control It refers to a cognitive function that allows people to inhibit certain automatic responses that occur in the body when faced with a specific situation, according to neurobiologist Héctor Ruiz Martín, director of the International Science Teaching Foundation (ISTF).
Why is self-control important in the workplace and business and what does it imply?
Now that we have a concept of what the self controlthere are some reasons why it is essential in the workplace and business, according to the consultant Clara Vega in her course Emotional intelligence in business management:
- In the business world it is necessary to make decisions that affect your future and that of the people around you. That is why it is important to know how to manage your own emotions and those of others. In this specific case, to be able to externalize the answers and reactions without these affecting such decisions.
- So the objective is to learn to know the limitations, understand how emotions influence these decisions and use this knowledge for better management.
- Thus, it is also important to consider that emotions sometimes improve and at other times hinder the ability to think and plan.
- When there is greater knowledge of emotions, it is necessary to learn to establish limits, that is, mechanisms that help to better manage or control emotions.
- It is advisable to have certain patterns of behavior to prevent impulses from clouding objectivity as well as to avoid making decisions that are not adapted to the circumstances.
- In the event that new data or facts appear that modify these behavior patterns, it is necessary to reflect and weigh the new situation.
- As a consequence of practicing self-control, it is important not to rush and act calmly: what has not yet been done can be done later, but what you say or do will no longer be possible to cancel.
- Linked to the previous point, it is important to know how to postpone reactions and decisions, so it will be possible to choose the most appropriate response to each event.
How to develop self-control?
Once we know that the self control It is a very valuable tool both in the workplace and in business, it is important to know that it is not a born skill, on the contrary, it requires self-knowledge, work and practice to improve it.
Here we share some recommendations to cultivate the self controlaccording to the specialized portal psychology and mind:
- Define what you want to control. This point, again, requires a self-analysis in which you know what you want to achieve. For example, do you want to work more efficiently? So you need to identify what negative habits prevent you from concentrating, but above all, identify what emotions are leading you to have those counterproductive habits. Once you are clear about what that something is that you need to learn to manage or control, it will be easier for you to practice the self control.
- Don’t force yourself not to feel. What would happen if you have a conflict with an employee, partner or a colleague at work? Even if you don’t feel good, would you pretend nothing happened so you wouldn’t be judged as impulsive? emotional intelligence and self control they involve accepting the emotions that certain situations can cause and, instead of allowing them to control your behavior, being able to express and manage them in a way that does not affect your decisions. But it is never about repressing emotions.
- Develop your emotional intelligence. According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify, understand, and regulate one’s own emotions and those of other people, so developing and practicing it can help you better manage day-to-day situations.
- Modify your environment. If in the environment where you carry out your daily activities you have detected those factors that represent a distraction or that trigger your impulses, try to keep them away, so you will not be tempted to return to counterproductive habits.
- Practice mindfulness. This concept refers to the practice of various strategies to improve attention and focus on the present moment, in the here and now, which helps to experience emotions without them becoming a problem in your daily life.
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.