Two Days of Life Class: Understanding Ourselves to Understand Others

During my recent two days in Life Class, I had the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of emotional intelligence, a topic I have always been genuinely interested in, especially coming from a background in psychology. While the basic concepts of emotional intelligence were familiar to me, exploring how they apply specifically to the workplace gave me a fresh and meaningful perspective.

One of the most fascinating takeaways from the sessions was learning about the role of the amygdala – a small, almond-shaped cluster of nuclei in our brain that has a significant influence on the way we react and behave. Despite its small size, its impact on our emotional responses can be quite powerful.

In a professional environment, this tiny part of our brain can have a major influence on how we respond to everyday situations. We have all experienced moments when workplace stress or pressure gets the better of us. This is where the concept of an amygdala hijack comes into play. It occurs when the amygdala triggers an immediate fight-or-flight response to a stressful situation, temporarily overriding our ability to think and respond rationally. It is in these moments that emotions such as anger or fear can take control, leading us to react impulsively without fully considering the consequences.

The key, therefore, lies in creating a bridge between our immediate emotional reactions and our rational thinking. I learned that something as simple as taking a brief pause, breathing, and giving ourselves a moment to think can make a significant difference. Instead of allowing an amygdala hijack to control a stressful interaction or rushed decision, that small pause gives us the opportunity to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

By developing greater self-awareness and empathy in the workplace, we can become more mindful of our emotional responses, recognise when our internal alarm bells are going off, and take a step back before responding. This can help us navigate workplace pressures with greater calmness, confidence, and grace.

After all, understanding the science behind our emotions and reactions is an important first step towards learning how to manage them better.