It’s ok to be emotional

For many people in business, expressing emotions is considered to be a sign of weakness.  Traditionally, weakness is never shown to other business people because it is something that will be pounced upon and taken advantage of.

Employers expect the same of their employees.  Employees are hired for their skills and capacity for hard work, not for the emotions.  It is expected that they keep their personal life at home and detach their emotions before entering the workplace.

However, this does not stop many bosses who bring their emotions and bad attitude to work and display them in an inappropriate and often uncontrollable manner.

Unfortunately, employees are the group perceived to be least able to defend themselves.  Some owners and managers have the misguided belief that the payment of wages and salary entitles them to vent their bad attitudes and behave inappropriately.

The truth is that everyone is an emotional being and everyone brings their emotions to work.  Some are better than others at recognising and controlling their own emotional states.  Some are better than others at understanding and dealing with the emotions of others.

In the early 1990’s the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) was introduced and since that time, EI has blossomed into a large field of corporate research.

In simple terms, EI is an awareness of one’s own and others’ emotions and the ability to control those emotions and influence the emotions of others. Those with high emotional intelligence show high levels of emotional restraint and empathy.

Researchers have found a direct correlation between EI and effective leadership, team success and employee performance.  It has also been shown that those who have high levels of emotional intelligence are generally happier with them selves and suffer less stress.

Until next time!

Gary