6 Ways to Lead with Kindness When Frustrated

Do you show grace under pressure?

Leading with kindness when you're frustrated isn’t about ignoring your feelings. It’s about managing them in a way that fosters respect, understanding, and progress. Here are 6 practical ways to do that:

1. Pause Before Reacting. Take a deep breath. Give yourself a moment to pause before responding to help prevent a regrettable action.

2. Choose Your Words Carefully. Frustration can make us blunt, but tone and word choice matter. Instead of "this is a disaster", try "I see some challenges. How can we address them?"

3. Seek to Understand. Instead of assuming the worst, ask questions. "Help me understand why..." is more productive than "this makes no sense".

4. Assume Positive Intent. People don't plan to make your day harder. Shift your mindset that others are doing their best can help de-escalate tension.

5. Give Constructive Feedback. Rather than venting, focus on solutions. Frame it in a way that encourages growth, like "I think we could improve by..."

6. Model the Right Behavior. If you want calm, be calm. If you want respect, give respect. Others take cues from how you handle difficult moments.

What else would you add?