By Christina Aldan
It's time to get real about emotions in the workplace. We've all had those days where emotions run high, making it hard to focus on work. Whether it's a personal issue, conflict with a coworker, or feeling overwhelmed, we're still expected to manage our responsibilities in a professional manner. But how can we accomplish that? By hiding in the bathroom stall to silent-cry? That's a useful technique sometimes, but not as a daily strategy. Or by making more workplace rules? That seems to demoralize the company when the rules aren't fairly enforced. Unfortunately, neither of these solutions --hiding nor policing-- can stop emotions from arising in the workplace. The truth is that we can't simply policy emotions out of the workplace. However, we can teach communication skills by empowering people with tools for emotional resilience.
Here are three proven solutions I use to help my clients and mentees get better results in their personal and in their work lives:
1. Mental Health First Aid: Mental health issues are more common than you might think. According to the World Health Organization, one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. And they take those issues with them to work, to the grocery, to the mall...wherever they go. This includes conditions such as grief, depression, and anxiety. So, it's likely that someone in your workplace is dealing with a mental health issue right now. Mental Health First Aid is a training certification program that teaches people how to recognize the early signs of a mental health crisis and how to provide support to someone who is experiencing one. By learning these skills, team members can use nuanced phrases to improve communication with someone who may be exhibiting early warning signs of a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders also learn how to help someone in the midst of a crisis. This, in turn, reduces stress in the workplace. Research has shown that mental health first aid can improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and increase confidence in providing support to others (Jorm et al., 2010). Having staff members who are trained to recognize and respond to a person who is struggling demonstrates a supportive workplace culture that values mental health.
Research supports the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that individuals who received MHFA training had improved knowledge of mental health issues and were more likely to seek help for themselves or others. If you or someone you know would like to be certified in MHFA for Youth or Adults, please contact The Avery Burton Foundation (https://AveryBurtonFoundation.org) to find out how to join an upcoming cohort of learners.
2. Conflict Resolution: Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, but how we handle it can make all the difference. Learning conflict-resolution skills can help you resolve disputes with coworkers in a productive and respectful manner. Conflict resolution involves active listening, empathy, and finding a mutually beneficial solution. By using these skills, you can prevent conflicts from escalating and improve working relationships.
A study published in the International Journal of Conflict Management found that employees who received conflict resolution training had better job satisfaction, lower stress levels, and improved working relationships. So conflict resolution training can improve workplace outcomes. To help people practice these skills in a safe environment with strangers so you don't have to worry about retaliation (because who wants to practice dealing with tough emotions with your boss? Maybe your boss is the problem!), I recently launched a monthly Leadership Improv Practicum co-facilitated alongside Leslie Martinich, president of the IEEE and international trainer. The Zoom class is spent practicing skills with people from different companies and industries. We role-play actual scenarios from Leslie's 20+ years in engineering leadership to learn leadership skills. Contact me to sign up for our next class (I am @luckygirliegirl and my DM's are open).
3. Emotional intelligence is often defined as the ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and process emotions. Individuals with high emotional intelligence can recognize their own emotions and those of others. They are able to utilize emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, differentiate between different feelings and appropriately label them, and adapt emotions to the environment. That emotional resilience to overcome the ups and downs of life is the stuff of leaders. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior revealed that individuals with higher emotional intelligence were more likely to be rated as effective leaders and to exhibit better job performance. Developing emotional intelligence can enhance communication skills, improve relationships, and lead to better decision-making. Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills are part of the 26 traits involved in emotional intelligence. Mindfulness practices such as meditation or deep breathing
exercises are one way to develop emotional intelligence. These practices can help you become more aware of your own emotions and reactions, which leads to learning how to regulate your emotions more effectively. Another way to develop emotional intelligence is by cultivating empathy). Empathy means you can shift your perspective (https://www.luckygirliegirl.com/is-it-time-for-a-fresh-perspective/) and put yourself in someone else's shoes. Practicing empathy (https://www.luckygirliegirl.com/empathy-superpower-part-1/) allows individuals to shift perspectives and understand the feelings of others, thus fostering stronger relationships and better conflict management skills. Research has demonstrated that emotional intelligence is positively associated with job performance, job satisfaction, and leadership effectiveness (Joseph & Newman, 2010).
Rather than creating rules that ban emotions, let us learn strategies for regulating emotions, building resilience, and assisting individuals in mental health crises. By practicing Mental Health First Aid, Conflict Resolution, and Emotional Intelligence, we can improve our communication skills, build better relationships, and cultivate a supportive workplace culture that values mental health. We can empower ourselves with tools for emotional resilience and become the best versions of ourselves. Even small steps in developing emotional intelligence can have a significant impact on our lives and the world around us. References:
1. Mental Health First Aid Training for the Public: Evaluation of Effects on Knowledge, Attitudes and Helping Behavior, Anthony F. Jorm, Betty A. Kitchener, Claire M. O'Kearney, Journal of BMC Psychiatry, https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-4-9
2. Conflict Resolution Strategies and their Performance: A Study on International Business Negotiations, Svetlana Holt, Leona Tam, International Journal of Business and Management, https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v10n2p239
3. The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: Why It Matters More Than Personality, Ashley M. Guidroz, Dana Joseph, Jennifer L. Moye, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12207
4. Griffith, J., & Frieden, J. (2000). Training for conflict resolution: A study of its effectiveness for organizations. International Journal of Conflict Management, 11(1), 32-55, https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/eb022834/full/html
5. Joseph, D. L., & Newman, D. A. (2010). Emotional intelligence: An integrative meta-analysis and cascading model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(1), 54-8.J, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886922004226 Christina Aldan
@luckygirliegirl everywhere else on the interwebs
Comments