Reboot

Chapter 17Emotional intelligence goes a long way

In managing people or managing yourself (both equally challenging), emotional intelligence was the superpower I found the most impactful. In the workplace it led to smarter interactions and longer tenures. Personally, it gave me the tools to know what I needed to do to reboot on my most challenging days.

An unsustainable pace

In this time I gave up some things that I never should have. The biggest regret I have is not making it to the wedding of my good friend Fi. It still bothers me to this day that I wasn't there for her wedding. I prioritised being at a store launch. A store that's no longer open, for a company that's gone through liquidation.

I still remember that particular launch. We would always start the day of our store opening by joining the full Nordstrom staff ‘store huddle', to introduce ourselves and share information about our offering. We'd play games to share this information, and I normally hosted the talk. That day I gave the introduction and, to Michael's surprise, handed it immediately over to him and rushed off. He handled it without flinching. As I had been speaking I'd felt a sweaty heat rise up my back and creep across my skull. I was nauseated like I'd been on a rocking boat for days. I knew I was about to have a panic attack. I made it to the backroom, laid down on the cold cement floor among the shelves of shoes and let it rise and wash over me. It was the only way I knew at the time to manage these ...