Do our emotions have value in the workplace?

Having high emotional intelligence can enhance nearly every aspect of professional life – especially for those in leadership roles.

In general, the most effective leaders aren’t those who come across as stoic and distanced from their teams, but are people capable of empathising with their employees, understanding their motivations, fears, and aspirations.

A team leader who is in tune with their own emotions is also better equipped to relate to others. Research shows having this skill builds trust within a team and fosters a positive work environment, leading to higher employee satisfaction, reduced turnover, and increased productivity.

Being managed by someone who operates on logic alone would arguably lead to a soulless and sterile environment, which is why you probably wouldn’t want to have ChatGPT as a colleague – and definitely not as a boss.

Our emotions also play a huge role in how employees communicate with one another. The words we choose, the tone we adopt, and even our body language are all influenced by our emotional state.

Being conscious of where we are at mentally can lead to more effective interactions across the board, from negotiations to team meetings or client presentations.

That said, focusing on our emotions requires a careful balancing act.

While awareness can enhance communication, an over-reliance on them can sometimes result in misunderstandings or conflicts. The key is to remain aware of emotional dynamics without letting them dictate the conversation entirely.

Finally, creativity and innovation are deeply related to our emotional lives.

Speaking from personal experience on this one, the creative process is often driven by curiosity, passion, and even frustration. These feelings push us to explore new ideas, to take risks, and to persist in the face of challenges.

Creatives are able to do some of their best work when guided by their emotions, even if they find themselves refining things after coming back down to a neutral state.

All in all, developing emotional intelligence – the ability to recognise, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as the emotions of others – is a skill that is being increasingly recognised as essential in the modern workplace.

By recognising the value of our emotional experiences, we can make more informed decisions, build stronger relationships, and foster a more dynamic and creative work environment.

As we continue to rethink the role of emotions in the workplace, it’s clear that they – when understood and managed well – can lead to greater success and fulfilment for everyone involved. More importantly, adopting a human approach at work is something AI won’t be able to replace… yet.