Emotions at the desk: an asset for leaders or a taboo in business?

Statistics from scientists at the Harvard Business School show emotions influence 95% of decisions. Therefore, shouldn’t emotion be considered an essential component of successful management rather than a weakness?

Many companies, especially in technical and industrial sectors, believe that feelings and emotions should be kept “behind closed doors”. However, such an attitude ignores findings that suppressing emotions can reduce productivity, lead to higher turnover, and even increase the risk of burnout. A study by the American Psychological Association found that emotional support in the workplace improves performance.

There is growing evidence that, in modern companies, leaders capable of correctly recognising and exploiting their emotions achieve better results. Examples in practice have proven this.

• A manager in a manufacturing plant notices employees’ frustration due to recurring process errors. Instead of ignoring the situation, they open a discussion, which leads to better control mechanisms and improved quality.
• A project manager in an IT company senses a dip in team motivation midway through a challenging project. They take an empathetic approach—acknowledging the team’s effort, encouraging open dialogue, and adjusting the timeline to reduce pressure.

A Gallup poll showed that leaders with high emotional intelligence boost motivation among their team members by 23%.

People working in emotionally supportive environments reported 31% higher productivity and 40% greater engagement (Corporate Leadership Council, 2021).

The time has come to shatter the myth that emotions have no place in professional settings. With proper management and integration of emotions into decision-making, they can be a strong tool for enhancing interpersonal relationships and improving corporate results. Modern leaders are not suppressing their emotions, but rather utilising them wisely to create harmony and build success.