8 Ways to Improve Self-Regulation

"Feed Your Good Wolf"

Which wolf do you feed?

There is a Native American story called "The Two Wolves." It starts with an old Cherokee telling his grandson about a battle that often goes on inside people.

He says, "My son, the fight is between two wolves. one is evil. It is angry, envious, jealous, sorrowful, 

regretful, greedy, arrogant, self-pitying, guilty, resentful, inferior, dishonest, proud, superior, and 

egotistical. 

The other is good. This wolf is joyful, peaceful, loving, hopeful, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, 

empathet

ic, generous, truthful, compassionate, and faithful."

His grandson thinks for a while, and then asks: "Which wolf wins, Grandfather?" The old Cherokee 

simply  replies, "The one you feed."

Regulating Your Emotions

The point of the story is that we all have a choice about how we react to situations: either in a positive 

or negative way. The more you practice thinking and behaving positively, the less negativity 

can affect you 

and the way you behave.

Let's apply the two wolves analogy to the workplace.

Imagine you've just been passed over for promotion. You start to think negatively about your boss, so 

much so that it interferes with your ability to do your work. But, after some deep breaths, you tell 

yourself  positive things like, "Something better will come along," "The person best suited to 

this job got it," and, "It's nothing personal." These new thoughts help you to think clearly 

again, and allow you to put the situation

 into perspective.

Making a proactive choice to feed your "good wolf," and to manage the way you think and act, involves 

self -regulation.

What is Self-Regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to keep disruptive emotions and impulses in check, and to think before acting. 

It's one of the five elements of emotional intelligence  (knowing your emotions; managing your 

emotions/self-regulation; motivating yourself; recognizing and understanding other people's emotions, 

and managing relationships), a concept developed by psychologist Daniel Goleman.

According to Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, in their 2002 book "The New Leaders: Transforming the 

Art of Leadership," people who self-regulate see the good in other people, and are able to identify 

opportunities in different situations. They keep lines of communication open, make their motivations and 

intentions clear, and act in accordance with their values. They also work to the best of their abilities, and 

are able to keep going when times are tough.

Goleman and his colleagues found that self-regulated people can calm themselves down when they're 

angry or upset, and cheer themselves up when they're down. They are also flexible, and adapt their 

styles to work with their colleagues (no matter who they are), and take charge of situations when 

necessary.

Emotional intelligence is a crucial leadership skill, because it gives you an awareness of your own 

emotions, as well as of others' feelings and needs. Self-regulation is also vital, because it means you 

can manage how you react to situations, and express yourself appropriately at all times.

The Importance of Self-Regulation

When we know how to manage our emotions and impulses, we function at our best. It means we act

in accordance with our "social conscience," rather than just doing what we want to do. 

For instance, we might help a team member with a piece of work even when we're pushed 

for time ourselves.

Self-regulation also prevents us from behaving in a way that could cost us, our team or our organization

 in the long run , even when there are short-term benefits. It allows us to delay gratification and 

suppress 

our impulses long enough to think ahead to the possible consequences of our actions. So, for example, 

we can turn down invitations to do something fun when we're studying toward a qualification, and are 

able to rein in the desire to tell difficult team members what we really think of them!

Being self-regulated means we're able to "bounce back" from negative feedback, which stops us from 

wallowing in self-pity and being less productive at work. And, if other people see we're able to keep calm 

under pressure, and accept feedback without getting upset, they're more likely to trust us with important 

work and projects. It also make us more approachable, and strengthens our reputations  at work.

8 Strategies to Develop Your Self-Regulation Skills

The good news is that you can learn self-regulation. Use the following eight strategies to develop it.

1. Leading With Integrity

Managers who are self-regulated lead with integrity. They are good role models, they practice what they 

preach, and they create trusting environments. They do the right thing for the right reasons, even when 

it means they don't take the easiest option.

People who live and work with integrity are often successful because others respect them. To behave 

with integrity, identify your values . These are the things that you won't compromise on, even

 if they put you at a disadvantage. (Recognize that you'll sometimes lose opportunities by 

behaving ethically, but that you'll win "the long game.") Then, start living these values every 

day. Admit your mistakes, take responsibility for your actions, and listen to your inner voice.

People tend to treat you how you treat them, so, if you don't want to experience bad behaviors from 

others, don't exhibit them yourself. Equally, if you remain positive and optimistic – even in the face of 

adversity – you team members will likely do the same.

2. Being Open to Change

People who self-regulate cope well with change, and adapt their behavior to different situations easily. 

Importantly, they think about change positively, and see it as an exciting opportunity 

for self-development. (Conversely, people who resist change can experience a great deal of stress, 

and other negative physical and psychological effects.)

If you struggle to cope with change, try using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping  to look

 objectively at your change situation, and to analyze how you can respond to it effectively. Other tools 

like SWOT , Risk Analysis  and Impact Analysis  can also help you discover new opportunities, 

and to manage and eliminate threats.

3. Identifying Your Triggers

An important part of being self-regulated is self-awareness , particularly when it comes to knowing 

what your weaknesses are, and how other people's behavior can affect you negatively.

Identify your triggers by making a list of all the times when you've given in to your negative impulses 

at  work. When you've identified emotions and reactions that aren't useful, replace them with 

more positive behaviors.

For example, you might discover that you tend to snap at colleagues when you feel your workload is out 

of control, because you have back-to-back meetings. If this is the case, you might want to 

schedule "free" 

appointments in your diary to avoid this situation.

Tip:

Consider keeping a Stress Diary  to identify where you need to improve your stress 

management skills, and to understand the levels of stress at which you are happiest and 

most effective.

4. Practicing Self-Discipline

In their 2012 study, "Masters of the Long Haul," researchers Thomas Bateman and Bruce Barry said 

that self-regulation is the single most important factor in achieving long-term goals.

People who show initiative or work toward challenging goals often encounter difficulties and setbacks, 

but those who are able to keep going eventually succeed.

Develop self-regulation by working on persistence and self-discipline. These are traits that keep you

working hard, even when you are not "in the mood" and your goals seem out of reach. For example, 

keeping focused on how you'll feel when you've finished your project might be the best way to avoid 

procrastinating, or giving up on a difficult project completely.

5. Reframing Negative Thoughts

People who are self-regulated are able to choose the wolf they feed. If you experience a negative event 

or obstacle at work, tune in to your negative thoughts. Ask yourself whether they're reasonable and 

stand up 

to fair scrutiny. For example, did you really not get the job because you're "not good enough," or was it

 because your colleague had more experience in a specific area?

Consider using affirmations  and visualization  to manage your negative thoughts and to control 

how you react to similar situations in the future. By rationally assessing the facts, you can 

undo the damage 

that negative thinking may have done. For instance, saying to yourself, "I can do this, I've done it before" 

is much more motivating than, "I can't do this, I'm hopeless!"

Another strategy is to find something positive about the situation. This small shift inperspective  can 

transform your thinking and make you feel more optimistic about the future. For example, imagine 

you've received some feedback that upsets you and causes negative thoughts to spiral. 

Take the emotion out of 

the equation for a moment, and think about whether there's any element of truth in it. If there is, how 

can you improve your performance next time? If there isn't, take the initiative  and talk to 

the other person to address any misunderstandings.

6. Keeping Calm Under Pressure

Self-regulation is about remaining calm in the face of adversity, and keeping your cool. If you're 

in a situation where you're losing control of your emotions, try to remove yourself for a few 

moments –either physically or mentally.

For example, relaxation techniques  such as deep breathing can help you to calm down – it interrupts 

any negative thoughts, and puts you back on a more positive path. Breathe in slowly for five seconds, 

then breathe out for five. Focus on your breathing, and nothing else. Do this at least five times.

Tip:

Remember, the more you practice self-regulation, the more successful you'll be at it.

7. Considering the Consequences

If you find yourself in a difficult situation, or if you're trying to control your impulses, think before you act 

and consider the consequences. Remembering what happened when you reacted badly in the past can 

remind you why it's important to be self-regulated.

Or, imagine how you look and behave when you're not in control – this will give you some perspective 

on the situation. For instance, if you're about to shout at your team member, imagine how 

you would look. Is your face red and sweaty? Are you flailing your arms around? How would 

you feel working for that person? You'd probably not want to.

8. Believing in Yourself

Another important element of self-regulation is self-efficacy. This is your belief in your ability to achieve 

your goals. To develop this, work on your self-confidence . Focus on the experiences in your life 

where you were successful, to put your mistakes and setbacks into perspective.

Choose to believe in yourself, and surround yourself with other positive and confident people. The more 

you see the success of others whose skills and abilities are similar to yours, the more likely you are to 

believe that you can also achieve that success.

Combine all of this positive energy with great stress management strategies, and you'll soon improve 

your levels of personal confidence.

Key Points

Self-regulation is the ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses, and to think 

before you react. It makes up one of the five elements of emotional intelligence, a concept 

developed by psychologist Daniel Goleman, and it helps us stop unhelpful behavior, and 

keep calm under pressure.

We all have the ability to control the way we react to situations. Build on your skills by 

leading with integrity, being open to change, practicing self-discipline, and believing in yourself. Keep calm under pressure by identifying your triggers to stress and reframing negative 

thoughts, and always consider the consequences of your actions.