If you've ever found yourself thinking, I want to support people emotionally, but I don't know where to start, then this episode is for you.

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Bright Morning podcast. I'm your host, Elena Aguilar, and in each episode, you will learn how to lead conversations that build

connection and spark change. So today we are kicking off a special series designed to support

you in those emotional dip periods that show up in the school year.

Those times when energy is low and tensions are high and people are just trying to make it through.

And we're starting where we need to start with understanding emotions.

Because if you want to coach people and not just their performance, you've got to start here.

So let's jump into it.

There's something I hear often from leaders and coaches, especially around this time of the year.

And it's a version of this question, which is, what do I do when someone is having big emotions?

Maybe they're crying.

Maybe they are withdrawn.

Maybe they are defensive or angry.

And maybe you freeze or you try to fix it.

Or you think, I'm not cut out for this or you worry that you will

overstep and venture into therapy land and if that sounds familiar i want you to know that you

are not alone i have been in all of those

places. When I first started coaching, I remember vividly how unprepared I felt when someone

cried. I literally felt like I was panicking and I would think I am not a therapist. I don't know

what to do about this. And then I would try to move on. I would try to redirect the conversation and get

back to the work. But here's the truth that I had to learn. And it's one that changed everything for me, which is

emotions are the work. When we avoid emotions, we miss the very heart of what people need,

...