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Emotions at work? Yes please!

 


"I was biting my tongue the whole time" 

"Gosh, he makes my blood boil" 

"I wish she would just get off my back" 

“There is a knot in my stomach”

 

These are all common idioms which are related to where emotions can settle in our body. We especially notice it during those tricky conversations. 

But weirdly enough, even though our body is telling us exactly what is going on, we hardly listen to it. 

A missed opportunity because they are crucial signals that remind you to use your communication skills and our emotional intelligence. 


What to do?  

-       * Do you notice tension in your body? Do you feel your heart beat faster? You may find it an exciting conversation. Ask yourself: What do I find exciting or difficult?

-       * State what you see or feel. Such as: "I notice my heart is beating fast and there is a knot in my stomach. I feel uncomfortable.”  

-      *  Examine your own judgment of emotions. What do you think about those emotions? What did you learn about that emotion? Are your thoughts positive or negative? 

-      *  When you see emotions as an interesting source of information, you become curious. You want to explore your emotions. What do they have to tell you? What can you learn from them? This is how you make yourself aware. And by becoming aware of your emotions, you can make the next step to managing your response and actions. 

 

When we suppress our emotions at work and not express them in an effective way it has consequences for our health. 

It can lead to minor complaints such as headaches and concentration problems, but also to more serious complaints such as insomnia, migraine attacks or even burnout. 

So, allow emotions at work. Both your own and those of others. It may take some getting used to, and you will feel uncomfortable. But being uncomfortable can bring a lot.

After all, we can only grow and learn outside our comfort zone.

 

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