How This Holocaust Survivor's Book Transformed My Leadership: Discovering Emotion as a Strength

I took this picture 7 years ago not knowing then how much this book would change my life.

In the background is my oldest son, only 2 at the time, and my husband.

We backpacked… Yeah, backpacked with a 2yo 😅 (and a dog), to Little Jimmy Campground in the Angeles Forest.

I had asked to get away because I had gone through a difficult time in my life.

I was sad. Mad. Frustrated. Lonely.

Emotional 😠

I got more mad when my husband told me that I could manage my emotions.

Then I got this book, Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl, with the suggestion that I’d understand emotions more after reading it.

I was skeptical the book would change anything.

The book is a story of Viktor Frankl’s life about his time in a Holocaust concentration camp, as a psychiatrist.

Its heavy material, but the perspective makes it one of the most powerful books Ive ever read.

He shows with his actions how hes able to regulate his emotions through one of the most painful and dehumanizing experiences in human history.

Instead of giving into anger and hatred for his guards, he models acceptance and even appreciation for the little food he does get, his fellow prisoners, and the opportunity to serve others.

Its the embodiment of introspection and self-regulation. And it inspires me to this day.

I’ve written about emotions a lot this week and how they affect you as a leader. How that impacts your team. And the emotions youll get back from them.

As leaders, we need to recognize the emotions in ourselves and in our teams. Dont lock them away. Learn how to use them for the gifts that they are.

For a great leader, emotions are a strength not a weakness.