Mangaging Emotions

 A huge part of a person’s identity and general make-up is their emotions and how they handle them. As I mentioned before, organizations are comprised of diverse personalities and that includes a wide range of emotional behavior. People’s emotions can get in the way of productivity because feelings can hurt, conflicts can arise and people can be silenced due to fear or spite. Emotions are what also keep us in check. They can keep us honest, ethical, or sympathetic to others. Emotions are often irrational because you can’t help how you feel. It is a sense that you get and there is no guarantee that extended thought and reason will change that. However, recognizing your emotions and managing your emotional intelligence is the key to open discussion and honest communication. Emotional feelings are different for everyone but they exist in everyone. Therefore, effective communication involves knowing your own emotions and understanding the emotions of those around you.

Hansen & Weis (2008) believe that in order for an organization to get the most from its workforce, they “need(s) to have authentic, differentiated individuals showing up as themselves – telling truths, saying what they mean, facilitating open communication, and implementing authentic data flow”. This alludes to having an identity and being comfortable expressing it in the workplace. However, this authentic self can only be brought out through self-awareness of emotional intelligence. Hanson & Weis go on to describe the “opposing forces” we face as individuals every day of having our own thoughts, beliefs, and feelings (conviction); and being connected socially to the people around us (connection) (2008). Finding the balance between your convictions and your connections is the essence of emotional intelligence. It is the constant task of being both separate as an individual and cooperative as a member of a group. This cannot be done without having a handle on your own emotions while recognizing the emotions of those around you.

References
Hanson, L. & Weis, W. (2008). The use of training groups (T-Groups) in raising self and social awareness and enhancing emotionally intelligent behaviors. Allied Academic International Conference. Academy of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict. Proceedings. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from Proquest Database.