In Extremis Leadership

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Learning About Fear and Leadership from Dangerous Settings Handling Emotion During In Extremis Situations

 

 

At the heart of the psychology of dangerous settings are the dark emotions that grip people who are uninitiated or un-prepared—emotions such as fear, anxiety, and sometimes anger. Even experienced professionals have emotional reactions to the stark realities and permanent consequences inherent to in extremis environments.

In extremis settings are dramatic, and like any drama, the dynamics of emotion are powerful and interesting. Ever since Daniel Goleman introduced the term emotional intelligence to the leadership literature, writers and thinkers who ignore this important component have been missing the color and character of leadership. ...