A lack of skills doesn’t end your career. A lack of emotional control does. I cared a lot early in my career, and I took things personally: A sharp email was like a personal attack. A negative feedback felt like a failure. And I didn’t realize how much it affected my tone, decisions, and leadership presence. That experience taught me this: Emotional control doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you don’t let your emotions take the lead. Think of the leaders you admire most. They’re the calmest when things fall apart. Here’s what they do differently: ✅ They pause before reacting • They take a breath before speaking • They ask: “Will this still matter in 5 years?” ✅ They control the energy in the room • They turn conflict into conversation • They shift problems into next steps ✅ They lead with focus • They use emotion to drive action • They act with purpose, not ego ✅ They build trust through consistency • They don’t overreact even under pressure • They create safety for others to speak up ✅ They stay steady under stress • They don’t fuel the drama • They turn pressure into performance The truth? One emotional outburst can undo years of progress. But emotional mastery builds the kind of respect that lasts. You don’t have to suppress your emotions. You have to learn to lead through them. What’s one thing that helps you stay calm under pressure? ♻️ Repost to help your network manage their emotions. 🔔 Follow Fatou Seck Mathon for more.

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The saying speaks to the idea that lasting reputation and memory are shaped not by the ease of one’s journey, but by one’s character during hardship. A person’s integrity, resilience, and compassion under pressure often leave a more powerful and enduring impression on others than their successes alone. Ultimately, how you treat others, and yourself, during challenging times is what people remember most. Thanks for sharing Fatou Seck Mathon

INDEED.VERY TRUE. In everything and anything one needs to allow their MIND(LOGIC) to RESPOND rather than their HEART(EMOTION) to take every situation too personally. Instantaneous responses can be erratic and send out the wrong message. A few secs into thinking allows great responses. Successful Professionals use only their Mind to work. Too Highly Emotional characters should go for the REEL-LIFE rather than REAL-LIFE. Will be successful in portraying various characters there. Nice Share. Thank you 🙏 STAY 🙌 ALWAYS 🌈🌈🤝🤝👏👏🙌🙌🙏🙏

This is a profound distinction between technical leadership and human leadership. Emotional control isn’t about becoming stoic or detached; it’s about channeling that emotional energy into strategic action rather than reactive drama. The leaders you describe create a “container” of psychological safety that allows their teams to perform under pressure. It makes me reflect on the systemic pressures in many organizations that actively undermine this. Beyond individual practice, what are the most effective ways to redesign team rituals or communication norms to proactively prevent the buildup of the stress and frustration that so often leads to those career-defining emotional outbursts?

This is so spot on! and you’re absolutely right. careers rarely end because of a missing skillset. It’s the unprocessed emotion, the unchecked stress, the silent burnout that quietly erodes performance and connection. As we step into this new age of AI, I believe emotional mastery isn’t just a “soft skill” but the new infrastructure for sustainable leadership. It’s what keeps companies’ “human”, even as the progression of automation and AI becomes more and more relevant. I’m working on something that explores this exact space. How emotional intelligence can be systemized and scaled within organizations. This post was a huge reminder that we’re on the right track. Thank you for sharing this 🤙

Being emotionally to every situation is dangerous. One of the great skills someone must possess is to learn how to emotionally detach his or herself from the outcome

Emotional control isn’t about being unfeeling it’s about not letting your feelings run the show. I’ve learned the hard way that reacting in the moment can undo months of trust and progress. The leaders who leave a mark aren’t the loudest or toughest; they’re the ones who pause, listen, and act with purpose. Mastering your own emotions is the fastest way to amplify your influence and create a team that thrives under pressure

Well said! Emotional control is really a leadership multiplier. I often tell professionals: it is not about reacting less, it is about responding with intention.

Emotional control, not just skill, defines lasting leadership. Staying calm under pressure builds trust and turns challenges into action. Recently shared a post on AI hallucinations- how one wrong “fact” can erase $100B and why governance is critical. Would love your thoughts. Fatou Seck Mathon

This resonates deeply. Emotional control isn’t about detachment—it’s about intentionality. The leaders who earn lasting trust are the ones who stay grounded, especially when the stakes are high. For me, staying calm starts with reframing pressure as a signal to slow down, not speed up. That pause creates space for clarity, empathy, and better decisions.