Your Emotional Business (8 min read)

 

Emotions are powerful.

Yet, we don't usually discuss them in business because:

  1. We think they are soft, show weakness, are not professional or appropriate, are only relevant to some groups of people, or

  2. We believe they will unleash unruly issues we can't control, create problems that can be avoided, or damage the business in some unrepairable way, or

  3. We fear the loss of control, fear change, fear the unknown - because even if what we have today isn’t perfect, at least we know what we are dealing with. It’s familiar, and to some degree we are comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Right now, due to the pandemic and everything that has come with it, many people are experiencing higher levels of the conventionally named ‘negative’ emotions. The U.S. National Pandemic Emotional Impact Report shows strong evidence of some of these emotions at play. Of the 1,500 people surveyed at the end of May 80% identify with being frustrated, 64% angry or irritated, 65% feel down or depressed.

Now equate that your organization, suppose 60-80% of your organization work on a daily basis in a frustrated, angry, irritated or depressed way, it is fair statement to suggest that their work, thoughts, engagement with colleagues and clients is not going to be the best it could be, and it might even have a detrimental impact on your business. We ran a small informal survey and 90% of those asked said they experience the Sunday blues, rather than looking forward to Monday morning. Wouldn’t you like to be running a business where you knew the people working with you look forward to what they are engaged with?

So, what can you do to safely engage emotions at work?

  1. First, understand the terminology. It’s all about perspective. We need to take the power away from the term ‘negative’. We often deem emotions such as anger, fear, frustration, irritability and worry as ‘negative’. In reality, emotions as neither positive or negative, they are ‘just’ chemical responses in our bodies to give us insight into a situation we are in or experiencing in some way. It’s what we do in response that matters.

    • As soon as we use the word ‘negative’ we create resistance and obstacles in our mind, we set ourselves up for a challenge, and we start pushing metaphorical boulders up a hill. Who wants to do that? No-one! (Well, not many of us anyway)

    • So we take the easy route, we term emotions as inappropriate and not professional at work and that’s a safe way to ensure they don’t get discussed. Well, since emotions are literally part of our minute to minute existence as humans, that approach hasn’t been working so well for many businesses.

    • Take the word negative away, and all that is left is emotion, we can do something with that. We can learn more easily about what emotions are in business without feeling defensive about it.

  2. Become adept at identifying feelings and explore what they are trying to tell you. This will empower you. When we gives ourselves the opportunity to develop our capability in how we respond to our own emotions we begin to understand ourselves more, and we start to understand others more too.

    • Rather than ignoring, burying, or shutting out feelings we can identify them, and learn to understand what they are trying to communicate. (there are many techniques to do this).

    • When we master this as individuals it changes the dynamics in an organization. Conversations take place in different ways, and you actively start shifting cultures and ecosystems.

    • Have you ever noticed how people working together or even in industries reflect similar behaviors? Yes there is something there about group, peer, and environment conditioning, but it is also largely to do with the consistency of emotions at play.

  3. Next, understand how behaviors are in response to emotions felt. Behaviors will either reinforce or diminish emotions. This is where conventional terms of 'negative' and 'positive' emotions come in. Typically we observe behaviors and then associate them (subconsciously and consciously) to emotions. This has developed and been engrained in us since being children. If you see an individual behave by screaming and shouting at someone else, firstly you might cast judgements as gut reaction, it might create an uncomfortable feeling in yourself, and given a bit more thought you might come to the conclusion that the feelings the screaming, shouting individual is experiencing relate to anger, sadness, and/or fear.

  4. Understand and learn about the science of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and how they impact every single engagement and business decision that exists. We do business with people we connect with, clients reflect the business they work with, disagreements with colleagues affect decision-making, egos spill over in meetings, and strong characters create shock waves that other colleagues feel and react or respond to. When you begin to understand the relationships between emotions, thoughts and behaviors you can then begin to successfully engage with all your feelings.

  5. Map your emotional culture. There will be a set of core emotions that run through your business more than others (can you identify them?), and your culture will actively or inactively define and reinforce emotions. Authoritarian businesses reinforce defensive, overwhelmed, fearful emotions, where behaviors show up as regular disagreements, competitive behaviors, and stonewalling. Self-regulating businesses reinforce connection, support, and secure emotions, which lead to behaviors of collaboration, healthy boundaries, and care-taking.

    • As a business, you can leave it up to the individuals across your organization to unconsciously decide what emotions will rule, but if the experience of team members and clients is important to you, then you will want to engage with the power of emotions and understand more about how they make a difference.

    • If you have spent time discussing your business mission, vision, values, goals, and metrics, and not spent time mapping and discussing which emotions and behaviors you want in your organization then you are missing a giant part of the formula. Like in life, if you don’t decide what you want then someone else will decide for you.

  6. If you want to explore more, and you actively want to get your organization involved in safely talking about how emotions make a difference, we can help you. Our “Feeling, Thinking and Behaving in Business” workshop, combined with “Mapping Your Emotional Culture” workshop are an excellent place to begin. Contact us for more information.

Further reading to explore more about emotions in business.

 

Birch Cove is not a medical or therapy based business, we do not offer guarantees of any kind. We are not responsible for the well-being of businesses or individuals that read, watch, or hear our content, or take part in sessions, or use our services or the services we highlight. Birch Cove and our Collective members are not responsible for the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals we interact with directly or indirectly. We work to share best practices that inspire healthy living and revitalize a quality of life. If you personally are feeling unwell seek professional medical advice, and follow the CDC guidelines as appropriate.

Birch Cove