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I’m a bit on the emotional side. And yes, I may have cried at work, once…or twice maybe! When it comes to emotional management at work, women have been repeatedly (and quite offensively, if you ask me), deemed as overly emotional in the workplace.
While some say it is now getting easier to show emotion at work, the majority seem to applaud emotional displays when coming from men, and frown upon them when displayed by women. Yet, as we are all becoming increasingly aware of the importance of emotional intelligence at work, it is more and more evident that successful women should all but hide their emotions at work, for fear these powerful outlets of anger, sadness or fear emphasize an already existing bias of weakness among women.
Yet, temper tantrums and other bursts of much more destructive anger from male leaders are often seen as signs of power and strength. If so, then, how can we, as women, leverage the power of our emotions as competitive advantage in the workplace:
1. Do NOT repress your emotions! Emotions are our body’s way of dealing with life. It’s not so much our emotions than how we react to them that sets us apart for success or failure. Allow yourself to feel and perceive emotionally, as it is the basis of emotional intelligence. It’s your response to what you feel that needs to be controlled.
2.Turn your emotions into Emotional IQ: as women, our acute perceptiveness of our own and others’ emotions gives us an edge over men, especially in the workplace where the merits of Emotional Intelligence are now being highly recognized. While some aspects of Emotional Intelligence, including self-awareness, social skill, empathy and managing one’s emotions, may be dealt with differently by both sexes, women are definitely apt at converting their high emotional quotient into positive, productive Emotional Intelligence.
3. Tailor your reaction to the situation: Regardless of the type of emotion triggered in you, keep in mind every situation calls for an adapted and appropriate reaction. Take some time to feel the emotional trigger, and ask yourself why you are feeling this way. This will help you assess the situation at hand, and give you time to calmly tailor your response to it in a productive, positive manner.
How do you leverage your emotions into Emotional Intelligence?
The Corporate Sis.
