3 Tips & 8 Seconds that Change the Emotional Climate of your Team

Scrum Masters, ask yourself – Are you a natural servant leader, or do you struggle to be the inspiring coach that creates high-performing teams? If you have a real desire to change and are ready for some tough self-reflection, this article may inspire you, and give you hope that you can influence major changes, by starting with things that are within your control. You might find that focusing on how your own behavior is impacting others can change the emotional climate in your team – and positively impact your career. (Do you secretly think the issues on your team are all about the Product Owner? Share my Emotional EQ for Product Owners article.) The following blog is inspired by Scott Watson’s work, an emotional intelligence speaker and trainer. I hope they will complement what you are already doing well and help you create a tactical plan to improve your own emotional intelligence and the emotional climate in your team. 1. Physician, Heal Thyself WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US As a leader, you must overcome any of your own emotional insecurity and speak up, even if you might have a personality that shies away from conflicts. It’s not about standing up to others; it’s about finding your voice. If you cannot speak up for yourself, how can you defend your team? An easy practice to check-in with your emotional self, is to track the amount of times you re-run your memory of a particularly uncomfortable scenario that occurs on a regular basis. For example, you might have a friend or teammate who consistently shows up late to an appointed meeting, abusing your efforts, or those of your teammates, to arrive on time. They might slide in, late again, and say something like “Oh, so sorry I am late. […]

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