Everyone talks about emotional intelligence. But in GBS, where pressure is constant, feedback is blunt, and change is relentless; what I think we really need is something even deeper:

👉 Emotional Agility.
Coined by psychologist Susan David, emotional agility is the ability to navigate your inner world—your thoughts, emotions, and triggers—without getting stuck in them.

And in GBS? It’s a key enabler. Because let’s be honest…
🔥 Stakeholders can be demanding.
📉 Process changes can fall apart overnight.
📲 You can get slammed for delays you didn’t cause.
👀 Your effort may go unnoticed—until something breaks.

So, what keeps high-performing GBS professionals grounded and effective?
They don’t suppress emotion. They don’t react blindly.
They pause. They reflect. They respond with intention.

🧠 Emotional Agility in GBS looks like:
✔️ Taking feedback without spiraling into self-doubt
✔️ Handling rejections or scope changes without disengaging
✔️ Choosing curiosity over defensiveness in tough conversations
✔️ Being aware of your triggers—and managing them before they manage you
✔️ Showing up calm and constructive, even when you’re under fire

💡 How to develop Emotional Agility?

😅 Name It to Tame It – Don’t say “I’m stressed.” Get specific: Is it frustration? Disappointment? Resentment? Precision helps regulation.

🙏🏽 Create a Pause Ritual – Before responding to escalations or emotional emails, take a breath. Re-read. Reframe. Respond tomorrow if needed.

❗ Write the Unsent Email – Draft it, vent it, delete it. This creates space between emotion and action, especially helpful in stakeholder conflicts.

🎉 Practice Self-Compassion – GBS can feel thankless. Acknowledge your effort, even if no one else does. Don’t outsource your self-worth.

🪞 Develop a “Board of Mirrors” – Trusted peers or mentors who help you see your blind spots—and keep you centered.

📣 GBS is full of complexity and contradiction.
You’ll be asked to lead without authority, serve without thanks, and fix problems you didn’t cause.

To thrive, you don’t just need skills.
You need emotional agility—so you can bend without breaking.