Liz Fosslien is the Co-author and illustrator of No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work. She recently spoke to First Round Review and explained the myths that we carry around about feelings and how “Follow your head, not your heart” is hurting the person as much as the workplace. Specially in startups. She elaborates on the seven emotions which we are told are deadly in the workplace but could be your secret career superpower. The cost of ignoring emotions at work is steep. “Part of the reason why emotions have such a bad reputation is that we’ve tried to keep them out of the workplace for so long. We suppress everything we feel, which means we don’t resolve issues while they’re still manageable.” says Liz.
What are the 7 emotions? Here is your quick check for reflection :
1. Anxiety
2. Envy
3. Uncertainty
4. Conflict
5. Spiraling
6. Not Belonging
7. Rejection.
Liz extols that it is time to get rid of the myth of a perpetually cool, collected professional and instead allow feelings like anxiety and envy sink in – “We evolved to have emotions. Many of them are useful cues. As it turns out, our emotions can sometimes tell us more about what we want than pure logic.”
Irrespective of the vulnerability of being seen as emotional (irrational, weak or unprofessional) what your emotions really mean is that you are Human. Being open about them at work can keep you at peace and make you happy.
It is a wonderful and timely read. Perspectives that have been long neglected. Time to look at the mirror I guess.
P.S. I love the illustrations that accompany the piece.
Where I learnt it #198
