Emotions are contagious, especially for creative leaders

Be the thermostat. Not the thermometer.
A leader’s unregulated stress is contagious, and it can stifle the attention, effectiveness, capacity, and output of an entire team.

That was a key takeaway from a Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders course I took at Yale earlier this year.

Teams respond well to leaders who embrace being the "thermostat" that sets the emotional temperature of the room rather than the "thermometer" that reacts to the heat of a crisis.

They need to know you have their backs and that the environment is a safe place for creativity to thrive.

The result is a culture that promotes welcomed feedback and creative curiosity. It makes others feel seen and important, building deep trust and psychological safety that allows the leader to influence the organization through connection rather than authority.

By regulating your emotions, you model presence, empowering teams to do the same. This elevates the culture of the entire department, and ultimately, the work.