Quote-A-Day: Day 66

All leaders get #angry + #frustrated. The best #leaders use those feelings to determine what's wrong + fix it.#QuoteADay #Day66 #edchat #edu

Anger and frustration are natural feelings.  We've all been in situations where those feelings arise.

And, we all handle those feelings differently.  Some of us act out, being transparent to those around us while also causing angst and fear.  Others of us keep the emotions inside, continuing as normal without letting others see us sweat.  Is there a right or wrong way to handle frustration?

Yes, but likely not in the way you might think.

Regardless of whether you explode or tuck those feelings away, the worst way to deal with frustration and anger is to not use it to your, and your community's, advantage.

We get angry because we see things as being inequitable, unfair, unsafe, etc.  We need to delve into those scenarios to pick out what has truly gone wrong, and once we have that data, act to change things or to fix them.  Anger and frustration can be motivating, and as long as the plan to change brings people to a better place than previously, motivation built on negative feelings can have a tremendously positive effect.

That doesn't mean that the situation is resolved when the anger resides.  Some scenarios in education take months and years to address.  But, we must act, and we must use the anger and frustration that the scenario has caused to move us in a direction that supports positive change.