You probably don't feel "fine."

Our capacity to change anything starts with our ability to name it. 

It's true in business, society, and our personal lives. We would never consider addressing a business challenge without some analysis. You don't walk into your CFOs office for a quarterly review only to state, "yea, things are not so great at the moment," with no further detail or specificity. But we do this in our emotional lives all the time.

As a coach, I start most sessions by asking a leader how they feel. What I typically hear is "fine." Really? That's it - just "fine"? We laugh, then unpack things to understand how they are REALLY doing and what might need some attention.

The Emotions Wheel is a handy tool that helps build awareness and more accurately name what we are feeling.

I recall during the depths of the COVID lockdowns feeling an acute sadness on some days. Using the wheel, I realized this sadness was, more specifically, a kind of loneliness - and even more accurately, a sense of isolation—a common and understandable feeling given the situation.

Take a look at the Emotions Wheel below and see if you can give a more specific name to a feeling you experienced today or recently. And please share in the comments if you'd care to.

Leading begins with your ability to recognize and name what is true - within yourself and the systems around you.


Wheel attribution to Robert Plutchik and the Feelings Wheel by Gloria Wilcox. There are many versions out there so please correct if needed.