Have you ever been told to keep your emotions out of the workplace? Traditional leadership models have told us to separate our personal and professional life, and the best thing we can do is neglect our emotions.
But maybe, our emotions aren’t the enemy. Here at Onsite we believe that embracing (and managing) our emotions might actually be our superpower at work. We become better leaders by becoming more in tune with what makes us human, and that starts with embracing our whole selves and giving others permission to do the same.
THIS MONTH, ONSITE TEAMED UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT STYLE BLUEPRINT TO UNPACK THE IDEA OF BEING “TOO EMOTIONAL” AT WORK AND HOW IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO EMBRACE OUR EMOTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside the article:
Try looking at emotions as information.
Many of us grew up with a narrative about our emotions, even if we can’t readily identify this narrative. Sometimes it is shaped by phrases: “Don’t cry,” “You’re being too sensitive,” or “That’s enough of that.” Sometimes the narrative gets told through the unwritten rules inside our families of origin. For instance, maybe certain emotions were off-limits for us because they were monopolized by someone else. Or perhaps certain emotions were labeled “bad,” and others were labeled “good.”
If we can consider our emotions as vital mechanisms for delivering information, then we can begin to see just how useful ALL emotions can be. In fact, if we’re willing to get curious, each of our emotions offers us a gift and invitation that will serve us in every area of our lives, including work.
Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, away from our loved ones, so naturally, we become emotionally invested. Understanding the emotions we experience at work can be a valuable tool!
Each emotion offers us a unique gift:
- Sadness: Sadness values and honors what is missed.
- Anger: Anger awakens us to injustice and motivates us into action.
- Fear: Fear keeps us safe. It helps us practice and prepare.
- Shame: Shame awakens us to our humility and our humanity. It creates an opportunity to embrace self-love.
- Joy: Joy helps us discover the fullness and richness of life.
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