This is a guest article on the role of emotions in business written by Elsa Brager, co-founder of Enoa HR recruitment and consulting firm in Paris and Toulouse.
In a performance-driven work culture, emotions are often viewed as disruptive elements however, they have unsuspected potential!
Our emotions are valuable tools for understanding our internal motivations and making informed decisions. When we know how to identify and manage them, we can use them as powerful assets.
Explanations.
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In professional life, emotions have long been relegated to the rank of extras, even intruders. However, they deserve to be given major roles.
Whether we are aware of it or not, emotions are in fact involved in every decision, every interaction we have in our professional life. This is simply because they are, by definition, psychological and physiological responses to given situations. Something is happening, our mind and our body are reacting! C.Q.F.D.
Basic emotions include joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust. Of course, we could go into a finer granularity. But that's not what the article is about. What is important to understand here is that emotion acts, sometimes without being aware of it. It's a kind of internal compass. It guides us.
With it, you will get excited about a new project or, on the contrary, run away from it. We will promote and thrive in a relationship with colleagues and/or hierarchy, or on the contrary apprehend it, etc.
And when you realize the central role of emotions, the field of exploration becomes fascinating. Analyzing the nature of our emotions, knowing how to identify and understand them becomes an additional skill. A skill that I would describe as essential.
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For a long time, emotions at work have been viewed in a negative way. We believed (and still often believe) that to be considered a professional, you had to leave your emotions at the door, put on your mask and enter the corporate arena!
This vision has fuelled a kind of taboo around emotions at work. Worse, they have become a weakness.
By continuing to think in this way, we are however ignoring an essential part of what makes us effective and successful people at work. By that I mean our ability to:
If you push logic to the limit, not considering emotions in professional life can lead to:
Not to mention that not listening to emotions (or emotional repression) can be harmful to mental health in the more or less long term.
Fortunately, a paradigm shift is gradually being observed. This is as research highlights the benefits of integrating emotions harmoniously into the workplace.
An increasing number of organizations recognize and welcome emotions at work, seeing them as a symbol of emotional and professional maturity.
The result: this approach leads to professional environments that are more human, empathetic and, ultimately, more effective.
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The concept of emotional intelligence (IE), popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman, is central to the reflections and evolutions of our vision of work.
EI goes beyond simply recognizing our emotions. It involves a deep understanding of these emotions and how they affect our thoughts and actions. EI teaches us how we can manage our emotions to improve our relationships with others and our professional effectiveness.
And the good news is that emotional intelligence... It can be worked on and developed!
This can involve a variety of practices: meditation, the practice of non-violent communication, follow-up of specific training in emotional intelligence... Nothing insurmountable therefore. Especially when you consider all the advantages that a company and its employees can derive from it.
By working on their emotional intelligence, directors, managers and collaborators obtain:
Leaders and organizations that recognize and value emotional intelligence promote more inclusive corporate cultures. They boost the motivation and commitment of employees. The latter feel, in fact, more recognized and valued, including in their emotional dimension.
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Beyond our own emotions, recognizing and understanding the emotions of others is a fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence.
Often referred to as “emotional empathy”, this skill allows us to understand the non-verbal signals and subtle nuances of communication that reveal the emotional state of our interlocutors. And that can be very useful!
By using it during meetings, negotiations, or in our daily interactions, we promote more effective and truthful communication.
This involves:
Again, this is worth taking a close look at, because if you adopt an attitude of emotional adaptability, you defuse more tensions at work and you encourage trust and cooperation in teams.
Finally, by being sensitive to the emotions of others and by creating an environment of mutual understanding and appreciation, it becomes easier to manage the complexity of professional relationships. Magical!
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Every day, at work, we face complex situations. Our emotions can then intensify and hinder effective problem solving.
In these situations, emotional management requires personal resilience and specific interpersonal skills.
First you have to stay calm and focused in the face of adversity, using stress management techniques (such as deep breathing, mindfulness, positive visualization...). It's a fact: the less stressed you are, the more you keep a clear perspective and the more thoughtful decisions you make.
In the management of complex situations, communication then plays an essential role. By adopting a clear, assertive, and empathetic attitude, it is possible to convey opinions and needs without creating emotional tensions.
Finally, when the time is right, offering constructive feedback will allow everyone to participate in a continuous improvement process.
To summarize, knowing how to understand and tame your emotions simply makes it possible to be happier and more efficient in business.
In other words, it would be wrong to deprive ourselves of it!
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