Emotional Regulation- A Critical Leadership Competency

Emotional regulation is a critical leadership competency. It involves an integration of the brain and the mind. I am reflecting on how memory plays a role in it after a coaching discussion.

When grown-ups throw a temper, they are judged as lacking emotional regulation. In fact, they could just react unconsciously from their implicit memory and let emotions take over.

There are two layers of memory, implicit and explicit. Implicit memory can be unconscious recall and relatively resistant to forgetting. It is primarily mediated by the basal ganglia (a basic structure that develops during the embryonic period) and the cerebellum (primary neurogenesis occurs during the first trimester).  Therefore, implicit memory typically develops early in life and can significantly influence personality and interpersonal relationships throughout life. Traumatic events can also be encoded in the implicit memory while adrenaline is being secreted.

Explicit memory is the conscious memory system for facts and events. It involves the hippocampus for formation and indexing, the prefrontal cortex for working memory and retrieval, and the neocortex for long-term storage, with input from the amygdala for emotional context.

When we are triggered, we sometimes bypass explicit memory and access implicit memory directly for a survival mechanism.  At this moment, the hippocampus can be blocked by excessive cortisol release. So we act out.

Recognizing triggers and managing reactions are essential components of emotional regulation. This process has various challenges based on childhood experiences, trauma events, and the functions of different parts of our brain.

Dan Siegel listed memory integration as one of the 9 domains for a well-integrated mind. He suggested that linking implicit and explicit memories into a coherent narrative enables us to process past experiences in a healthy way.