Reaction Mode is a pattern, not a personality flaw
Most leaders I work with are thoughtful, capable, and deeply committed.
And still they find themselves reacting in ways they don’t love.
Snapping.
Over-explaining.
Avoiding.
Taking things personally.
Jumping in too fast.
When this happens, the inner commentary is brutal:
I should know better.
Why am I like this?
Why can’t I stop myself?
Nothing is wrong with you.
Reaction mode isn’t a lack of discipline or emotional intelligence.
It’s a predictable response to pressure, responsibility, and relational tension.
In other words: it’s a pattern.
And patterns don’t change through judgment.
They change through awareness.
The moment you can see reaction mode as something that happens - rather than something that defines you - you get your choices back.
That’s where leadership gets lighter.
đź’śStacey
{{first_name}} - A realistic New Year’s resolution is not to stop reacting. Instead, focus on catching yourself in reaction mode and develop habits that help you shift when it does happen (and it will).
And if you want to talk it through, you can always reply to this email. I read every response, and I’m genuinely glad to hear what you’re wrestling with.
Leadership doesn’t have to be a solo act. We learn this dance together.
