Managing emotions in turbulent and troubling times Professor Peter J. Jordan Griffith Business School
Overview Emotions and behaviour Emotional reactions to change Emotional intelligence What emotions are signalling Intensity of Emotion Emotional contagion Current projects on emotions
Individual Exercise 1. Think about your time at work over the last week. 2. What emotions have you experienced or witnessed in others? 3. Write down each of these emotions one emotion per post it note.
Emotions during a Work Day
Positive & Negative Emotions (Murray & Jordan, 2006) 45 40 35 Comparative Scores 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Negative Positive
Negative Emotions Count 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Capability and Delivery Fear Annoyed Concern Confusion Stress Anxiety Tired Embarrassment Guilt Sadness Helpessness Anger Worry Frustration Pressure Shock
Positive Emotions 8 6 Count 4 2 0 Capability and Delivery Excited Hopeful Pride Satisfaction Pleased Joy Happiness Enjoyment Amusement Supportive Energetic Relief Love Expecting Productive Thoughtful Fulfilled
Emotions and Change
What is an Emotion? Emotions consist of four separate parts: 1. What we think 2. What we feel 3. How our bodies react 4. How we behave
Primary & Secondary Appraisal Primary Appraisal» evaluation of the situation as positive or negative Secondary Appraisal» evaluation of own capacities and resources to deal with the situation
Basic Emotions Primary Reaction» Anger» Joy» Fear» Surprise» Sadness» Love Secondary Reaction (Complex Emotions) Disgust Shame Guilt Embarrassment
Why consider emotions at work? To build interpersonal relationships at work To facilitate strong feelings of community among organisational members Increase tolerance of ambiguity Decrease dysfunctional conflict
Emotions & Work Positive Emotions» Affective Commitment (Loyalty)» Enthusiasm» Organizational Citizenship Behaviours Negative Emotions» Withdrawal» Lethargy» Antisocial Behaviours But is it this simple?» What the negatives of positive emotion?» What are the positives of negative emotion?
Types of emotions in organizations Emotions and Organizational Behavior Felt Emotions Emotional Labor Displayed Emotions
Emotion in Organisations (Ashkanasy & Jordan, 2008) Level 5 Organizationwide Organizational leadership Emotional climate Bounded emotionality Organizational performance Level 4 Groups & Teams Leadership Direct influence Emotional contagion LMX Group affect Affective tone Team Member Exchange Group emotional intelligence Group behavior and performance Level 3 Interperso nal Perception of emotion Felt vs. displayed emotion Emotional labor Interpersonal relationships Trust Level 2 Between- Person Individual differences: Trait affect Emotional intelligence Leadership style Attitudes Considered Behaviors Decision making Level 1 Within- Person Affective events Emotional reactions Mood Emotion states Impulsive behaviors
Emotional Intelligence 1920s Social Intelligence (Thorndike) 1950s Links between intelligence and affectivity (Piaget) 1980s Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner) 1990s Emotional Intelligence (Salovey &Mayer) 1995 Release of Goleman s first book
What is Emotional Intelligence? (Mayer & Salovey, 1997) Ability to manage emotions Ability to apply emotions Emotional Knowledge Ability to perceive emotions
What is related to EI? Organizational Citizenship Behaviours Creative Thinking Empathetic Concern Perspective taking Impression Management Emotional Control Emotional Repair Dealing with Change
Emotional intelligence training We already have learned a lot about emotions as adults Broad experiences teach us more about emotions Training can make sense of what you know Training can provide a framework for understanding what you already know.
Identifying Emotions in the face
What emotions are generated in turbulent times? Anger Fear Sadness Anxiety Excitement Anticipation Enthusiasm Anxiety These are natural reactions the issue is how we deal with them ANZSOG seminar July 2012 Peter J Jordan
Emotions during change Important to consider» Understanding of the causes of emotions.» Understanding the consequences of emotions.» Recognition of how emotions can blend and also change over time
The Positives of Anger Caused by: the perception (real or imagined) of a grievance (justice). Leads to: 1. A focus of energy on a justified grievance 2. Gives us the energy to right a legitimate wrong
Negatives of Happiness Caused by: the perception (real or imagined) of confidence or satisfaction. Leads to: Contentment (lack of motivation) Ignoring other emotions Inappropriately expressed can result in conflict (e.g. Shadenfreude)
Positives of Surprise? Caused by: the experience of the unexpected (a transitory emotion). Leads to: Our eyes are opened Our ears are opened We go into information seeking mode
Positives of Sadness Caused by: the perception (real or imagined) of a loss. Leads to: 1. Consideration of problems that may have been ignored previously (reflection) 2. Realisation of where things went wrong
Positives of Fear Caused by: the perception (real or imagined) of a threat (triggering a flight or fight response). Leads to: 1. Generates energy to deal with a threat 2. Seeing new opportunities in the familiar
Emotion & Cognition Inverse relationship between emotion and thinking When emotion is high (or intense) thinking will be impaired. Physiological reason» Blood flow is altered from cognitive to emotional areas(drevets & Raichle, 1998)» Attention is diverted to the strongest emotion (Marsella & Gratch, 2002)
Emotional Progressions Anger Irritable Annoyed Frustrated Upset Mad Angry Furious Enraged Happiness Positive Calm Content Amused Pleased Happy Joyous Fear Attentive Wary Edgy Nervous Worried Fearful Panicked
Summary Emotions matter. Emotions have utility (not simple positive and negative). Emotions can be used to facilitate change if you know how.