Is It Okay to Cry at Work?

Abstract

Everyone experiences emotional responses to events. It is unavoidable. It has always been the culture to keep negative emotions suppressed at the office for protection. Showing too much emotion on the job could lead people to believe you are weak. Also, managers need to be able to recognize employee’s emotions and moods to manage effectively and minimize work interruptions.

Introduction

The question of whether or not to show emotion in the workplace is an interesting one. On one hand, emotional outbursts can distract employees from their tasks. I have seen people cry at work and for the next hour or so that is all anyone is talking about. Being emotional can also lead to bad management as well. There are some managers who use fear and anger to keep their employees on task. There are however, contradicting theories that say displaying emotion at work can help with things such as creativity, motivation, leadership, and overall productivity.

What factors do you think make some organizations ineffective at managing emotions?

Some organizations are ineffective at managing emotions. Probably the most significant factor is the lack of emotional intelligence among managers and employees alike. Managers that lack the ability to perceive emotions in their subordinates could come off as insensitive and brash. It is important for managers to be able to read their employees mood to communicate in an effective way. For example, Suzie comes in to work sad because her cat passed away. Her manager has to speak to her about a mistake she made the day before. If he approaches her blind to her sadness to give negative feedback, he may trigger an even larger emotional response such as make her cry. A more intuitive manager may notice that Suzie was not quite herself and either wait to speak to her about the error made, or be able to relay the message in a gentle way.

Another factor that makes some organizations ineffective at managing emotions is their inability to relate to their staff. If managers are too disconnected from their employees it makes it hard to understand their emotions if and when they are displayed. At my company we have monthly one on one meetings with our supervisor. At those meetings we not only go over the work we have done over the past month and what work will need to be done in the month ahead, but we also use that time to talk about what is going on in our lives. These conversations help managers get to know their employee’s personality which in turn helps them notice emotional changes. My current supervisor knows me very well and can easily detect when I am in a negative mood. She will ask if everything is okay and offer support. I admire her as a manager who takes the time to show concern and support for her staff. It makes her more approachable which I think is an important management skill.