Stop pretending emotions don't belong at work

What do emotions have to do with business?

A whole heck of a lot, actually.

It bothers me when emotions are discounted in business because they’re actually the fuel behind our commitment to reaching goals. They're why we…

…push to meet deadlines,

…do what's right for customers,

…say "yes" to some opportunities and "no" to others.

We welcome positive emotions that benefit the organization, but what about negative emotions? Those are less desirable—the ones we want people to "figure out" so they can get back to work.

However, negative emotions need space too. Otherwise, our teams will be left to deal with them alone. Avoiding them only exacerbates problems, prevents conversations that solve things, and misses opportunities to repair what may have been broken.

But how?

The exact strategy for each case will differ, but here are core principles to keep in mind:

1. Acknowledge the elephant in the room

2. Hold conversations with empathy in a trusting space

3. Identify what you can and cannot control

4. Be willing to admit ownership where relevant

5. Decide to let go and move forward

6. Give sincere apologies to repair any damage done (if applicable)

7. Outline clear actions or communication changes moving forward

These ground rules are worth training around before a crisis arises. When people practice with smaller issues, it's easier to prevent things from escalating.

When negative emotions exist and aren't addressed, they waste energy that could be better allocated elsewhere.

If you have a specific situation you'd like help with, reach out to schedule a 1:1 call by clicking the link below.

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Yes, seriously...we can have a one-time coaching call on the house. It's just you and me, in a safe, trusted space, accelerating your path through the challenges you face. 

Halle

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