How well do you recognize when something will negatively trigger you?

Our reader poll today asks: How well do you recognize when something will “trigger” you in a negative way?

– Extremely well — I know my triggers and mitigate them before they happen: 11.37%
– Very well — I recognize when I’m being triggered and act accordingly: 47.56%
– Well — I can recover quickly when I’m triggered: 25.99%
– Not well — I have trouble reacting well when I’m triggered: 14.15%
– Poorly — I’m not aware I’ve been triggered until after the damage is done: .93%

Mindfulness matters. Everyone gets triggered. The leader’s challenge is to react to triggers appropriately. Losing your composure only takes a second but lasts much longer in terms of the negative perception you’ll create. Spend time thinking about things that trigger you (phrases, people, events, situations). Be aware of situations where triggers will be present. Have a plan for how you’ll react to a trigger in advance of putting yourself in the situation. The sooner you’re able to recognize triggers, the easier it is to demonstrate an appropriate behavioral response.

Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

Did you enjoy this post?  If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog.  It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!).  SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.