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So happy you want to hug the world?
You can also show positive feelings at work.
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Photo: Flashpop/Getty Images
Some companies start meetings with a sentiment poll.
Everyone present then briefly shares how they are doing.
The aim is for everyone involved to know how the others feel - and to be able to deal better with the emotional states.
Is this really necessary before every meeting?
I do not know.
But: It is undisputed that emotions influence our thoughts and actions.
And therefore also play a role in everyday work.
Professional does not mean unemotional
As a career starter, you may be mistaken that you have to lay aside your own self and the associated emotional world at the doorstep of the company.
How else are you supposed to master the professional demands that are placed on you?
But the fact is: we are not robots, our feelings cannot simply be turned off.
Hiding emotions requires a lot of energy - and also means that your own image is not coherent to the outside world.
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Instead, it helps to be mindful of your own emotions.
If I question myself exactly how I feel, I can communicate it better.
I have found that colleagues generally appreciate it when you speak openly about special emotional situations.
How much each: r would like to reveal about themselves is an individual decision.
Emotions that can be communicated in a professional context
As always, finding the right balance is important.
But I would definitely talk about the following emotions at work - at least if they also have a strong influence on me during working hours:
Grief:
Fortunately, a death or separation from a partner is not an everyday occurrence.
In such extraordinary situations, it is helpful to inform colleagues.
It has been my experience that open dealings often lead to offers of help and relief.
If the circumstances at the workplace are known, it is also okay to say in a meeting, for example: »Dear colleagues, I am sorry, but I can no longer follow the discussion.
Because of my personal situation, that's just a bit too much for me.
Can we please take a break for fifteen minutes?”
Worries:
In a professional context, worries are similar to grief.
Thoughts may revolve around a sick child or the parents who had an accident.
This makes it difficult to concentrate.
Colleagues can usually understand such feelings, after all, almost everyone has been in a similar situation.
Open communication is also helpful here.
The situation is different, however, with worries that revolve around money shortages or addiction.
On the one hand, these areas are (unjustifiably) stigmatized.
On the other hand, you run the risk of receiving unwanted advice.
I would therefore keep these topics away from the working environment and discuss them in a professional consultation.
At least as a first step.
Fears:
I recently attended a training course.
As the clouds gathered outside, a colleague told us that she was terribly afraid of thunderstorms.
That was good because it allowed us to close the windows and draw the curtains.
It was also clear to us that we could only expect limited cooperation from her over the next half hour.
Fear is a very powerful emotion - hiding it is almost impossible.
That's why it makes sense to express a phobia, for example.
Especially when, like my colleague, it has a direct impact on the situation.
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Anger:
There are many occasions for anger in everyday work.
An annoying conversation with a supplier, a whining customer – all of this can get on your nerves.
Especially when it comes to minor annoyances where you don’t have to call mediation right away, it can be a relief to let the anger out with colleagues.
But you should make sure that you don't just unload your own frustration.
It is optimal if you also serve as an open ear yourself.
Joy:
Not only negative emotions should have their place at work.
Beautiful feelings can also be shared – in the best case, they are even contagious.
For example, I have a nice memory of a lunch break we had together when a colleague talked about his new bike.
He spoke so enthusiastically about how much he now enjoyed the journey to work that he carried us all along.
The atmosphere was great for the rest of the day.
Because of a bike.
So don't underestimate the positive impact of something you enjoy!
The days when emotions were taboo at work are definitely over.
That doesn't have to mean writing an e-mail to the entire company mailing list every time you feel a stir.
Instead, you should think carefully about who you want to share the emotional situation with and in what context.
Maybe there is even something that colleagues and supervisors can do to relieve the strain.
You're welcome to communicate that too.
