Qualification: Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care (RQF)
Unit: Unit 17: Manage Self for Leadership in Adult Care
Learning outcome: 1 Understand the importance of selfawareness
Assessment criteria: 1.2 Describe how own emotions can affect own behaviour and in turn the behaviour of others
- Emotional Contagion: Emotions are often contagious. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, those around you, including the individuals you’re supporting, may pick up on and mirror these emotions, leading to heightened tension or anxiety in the environment.
- Perception of Care: If you’re feeling frustrated or impatient, this could result in rushed or less attentive care, affecting the individuals’ perception of the support they receive and possibly triggering negative behaviours in response.
- Interpersonal Relationships: Positive emotions such as happiness or enthusiasm can foster better relationships with individuals and colleagues. However, negative emotions like anger or sadness can strain these relationships, potentially leading to conflicts or reduced cooperation.
- Performance and Productivity: Emotions can impact your productivity. Positive emotions can energize and motivate, leading to higher performance, while negative emotions may hinder your ability to focus, lowering your productivity and potentially affecting the quality of care.
- Response to Situations: Your emotional state can influence how you react to situations. For example, if you’re feeling stressed, you might react negatively to a challenging situation, which could escalate the issue and provoke a negative response from others.
- Communication: Emotions can significantly affect your communication. For instance, if you’re feeling upset, your communication might become curt or defensive, which can lead to misunderstandings and potential conflicts.
- In care work, emotional self-awareness and regulation are critical skills. It’s important to acknowledge and manage your emotions effectively to ensure they do not negatively impact your behaviour or the individuals you support. Self-care strategies and stress management techniques can be crucial in maintaining emotional well-being in the challenging context of care work.