Say the phrase “emotions in the workplace”, ask people what they think of and you will get all sorts of replies. However, those responses tend to have one thing in common – for most people, it has negative connotations. This is because we tend to think of extremes (anger, hysteria), and a lack of control around their expression, when we think of emotions in a work context. Added to this, the myth of rationality means that we assume a well-functioning and effective organisation is one that is devoid of emotion. This is not so.
I have recently spoken at two events - one for DE Consult, the other for City Women Network & alumni of King’s College London - and while the emphasis of each talk was slightly different, the underlying message was the same: emotions are a normal part of human functioning; instead of trying to banish them from the workplace, why not get better at understanding and harnessing them?
This really speaks to the concept of emotional intelligence - the emotional and social skills and abilities that enable us to effectively navigate life’s (and the workplace’s) ups and downs. As leaders, it is especially important that we are able to effectively read, interpret and respond to the emotions that arise during the course of the working day as it has huge implications for how we relate to others, but also whether we can get them to thrive. Emotional intelligence accounts for between 27% and 45% of the variance in job performance (Stein & Book 2011), so it’s worth getting right. Research also shows that emotional intelligence is highly linked to transformational leadership (MHS Assessments) - a style that represents leaders who are engaged and harness employee potential to fuel the growth of an organisation and its employees. If nothing else, we should see emotions as another data point for leaders, signalling something about what’s going on in the environment and providing a barometer in a given situation.
The reality is, we cannot detach our emotions before we go to work. It is also a reality that many of the processes in which we engage during our working day, especially as leaders, have emotions at their heart. Given that emotions are inevitable, ‘undetachable’ and potentially useful to leaders, why not become better at using them?
#BeingHuman #EmotionalIntelligence #Emotions
Women In Business event, King’s Business School
Photo credit: Nathan Clarke
References
MHS Assessments: https://legacytap.mhs.com/EQi20FAQ.aspx
Stein, S. J., & Book, H. E. (2011). The EQ edge: Emotional intelligence and your success. John Wiley & Sons.