Decode Accurately and Present Feelings Helpfully

To be an emotionally intelligent leader, it is essential to test perceptions accurately, fairly, and effectively. You can achieve this by following these steps:

Gather information: Before making assumptions or drawing conclusions, gather information about the situation, the person, or the message. Avoid jumping to conclusions based on partial information or hearsay.
Decode accurately: After gathering information, take time to decode and interpret it accurately. Look for both verbal and nonverbal cues to understand the message. Be aware of your biases and preconceptions, and work to set them aside to see the situation objectively.
Test perceptions: Once you have decoded the message, test your perceptions. Do this by asking clarifying questions to ensure you understand the message correctly. Paraphrasing what you heard and asking for confirmation is an excellent way to do this.
Be sensitive: Exposure to the other person's feelings is crucial when testing your perceptions. Use a gentle, empathetic tone to avoid being confrontational or argumentative. Be respectful and patient, and try to see things from their perspective.
Present feelings effectively: Once you have tested your perceptions and feel confident that you understand the situation, present your feelings effectively. Express your thoughts and feelings in a sensitive, appropriate, helpful, and honest way. Avoid being confrontational or dismissive, and instead, focus on finding solutions and working together to address the issue.

By following these steps, you can become more effective in testing your perceptions and expressing your feelings in a way that promotes healthy communication and relationships. Being emotionally intelligent requires ongoing effort and practice, but the rewards are worth it.

$7.00

Leadership Development Mind Map Workbook

The Leadership Development Mind Map Workbook poses 24 questions for you to think about and make adjustments in your... Read more

I WANT THIS

Read more from Karl Bimshas | Karl Bimshas Consulting

Culture Leads, Systems Sustain

Monday 10-27-2025 Culture Leads, Systems Sustain Too many leaders hide behind systems. They think a new process, policy, or program will magically fix dysfunction. It won’t. Systems can enforce compliance, but culture determines whether the system endures or gets undermined. That’s true whether you’re managing a department or confronting systemic social issues. If your culture doesn’t support your system, you’re enforcing empty rules that no one believes in. When systems and culture are...

12 days ago • 2 min read

10 Principles for Defiant Leadership

Monday 10-20-2025 10 Principles for Defiant Leadership A Roadmap for Integrity, Courage, and Conscience Over two decades ago, I created a wallet-sized notecard for my team called the “10 Pride Principles.” It served as a simple guide to help us stay grounded when things got loud — a quick reminder to remain human and proud of how we worked. Today, noise levels have increased. Authoritarian thinking has infiltrated organizations. Fear, or worse, sycophancy, has replaced courage in too many...

19 days ago • 3 min read

57 Varieties of Success

From the desk of Karl Bimshas Hi Reader, Let’s call it a “catch-up” year. 57 Varieties of Success Recently, I was challenged to spend some time reviewing past success, big and small. For no particular reason, other than it’s my 57th birthday, here is a non-inclusive, non-prioritized, random list of 57 assorted business milestones, personal leadership accomplishments, creative output, and other moments of pride I’ve had so far. 1. At the age of 8, I began making Regular 8mm movies with themes...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read