Master Your Emotions: The Power of the 10-Minute Reset

Emotions are your fuel.

They fire you up or soften your resolve. In business, this can be good and bad. How you handle your emotions defines a real part of your success—or failure—as a leader.

Take:

• Fear keeps you cautious, but unchecked fear paralyses progress.
• Confidence fuels decisive action, but overconfidence blinds you to risk.
• Anger signals problems that need fixing, but outbursts erode trust and morale.
• Hope inspires perseverance, but blind optimism overlooks critical warning signs.
• Intuition spots unseen opportunities, but impulsive reactions invite costly mistakes.

These are all feelings. No data points, no graphs—just raw, human emotion.

So, how you respond when emotions rise is critical. After all, emotions are just temporary feelings. They ebb and flow with the inevitable pressure that comes with leadership.

When emotions run high, bias creeps in. Confirmation bias makes you trust your gut. This is the classic system one trap—avoid it.

When bias and emotion threaten to cloud your judgment, the 10-minute reset helps you regain control.

The 10-minute reset is a proven method to put your emotions in perspective. Before deciding, give yourself ten minutes to walk, organise your desk, or do something neutral to the situation.

In those ten minutes, your emotions settle. Your perspective shifts. Your mind engages in system two thinking—clearer, more deliberate, and less impulsive.

You make space to accept and understand your emotions. You learn to influence them, not act on impulse.

Why does this work?

• Clearer thinking: Emotions settle, reducing clouded judgment.
• Reduced impulsivity: You make decisions with intention, not reaction.
• Better outcomes: You avoid costly mistakes driven by temporary feelings.

Nelson Mandela once said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Maybe the best way to achieve that is through a 10-minute reset.

Make the 10-minute reset your go-to move.

Next time emotions flare, pause and use it. Watch how it transforms your toughest calls—and your confidence as a leader.

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