Daniel Goleman, a thought leader on emotional intelligence, talks about our social brain and how we are wired to emotionally connect to those around us. Studies have proven that the power of our emotional connections to others has impact down to our immune system and t-cells! This provides new meaning to those of us who may think we have “toxic people” in our lives!
Who would think that Disney and Pixar would come out with one of the most thoughtful and inspiring productions focused on the value of emotions? Well, they have and Meg LeFauve has my deepest gratitude! It may be no wonder that I am choosing to comment on a movie whose lead character’s name is “Joy.” This movie is relevant for children and adults, and for professional and personal lives. Leaders: this has critical importance for you!
Very often, when my clients speak about emotions in the workplace, they refer to them as “drama.” Have you heard that comment? If we think of emotions as “drama,” what impact do we then have on how we encourage and respect the varying emotions around us? Isn’t it emotion that, literally, helps us take action (e-mote: to move)? Alexander Caillet, in his well-conceived “The Thinking Path,” outlines how our emotions impact our behavior and results. Whether we choose to admit it or not, emotions are all around us in the workplace and we would be better served if we noticed them within ourselves, as well as within others. It is well documented that the most effective leaders are those who have the highest emotional intelligence. It is the self-awareness, self-management, other awareness and management that helps us engage others (on a purely physical level) and motivate our teams to achieve our outcomes.
Insights I gleaned from Inside Out include:
Who would think that Disney and Pixar would come out with one of the most thoughtful and inspiring productions focused on the value of emotions? Well, they have and Meg LeFauve has my deepest gratitude! It may be no wonder that I am choosing to comment on a movie whose lead character’s name is “Joy.” This movie is relevant for children and adults, and for professional and personal lives. Leaders: this has critical importance for you!
Very often, when my clients speak about emotions in the workplace, they refer to them as “drama.” Have you heard that comment? If we think of emotions as “drama,” what impact do we then have on how we encourage and respect the varying emotions around us? Isn’t it emotion that, literally, helps us take action (e-mote: to move)? Alexander Caillet, in his well-conceived “The Thinking Path,” outlines how our emotions impact our behavior and results. Whether we choose to admit it or not, emotions are all around us in the workplace and we would be better served if we noticed them within ourselves, as well as within others. It is well documented that the most effective leaders are those who have the highest emotional intelligence. It is the self-awareness, self-management, other awareness and management that helps us engage others (on a purely physical level) and motivate our teams to achieve our outcomes.
Insights I gleaned from Inside Out include:
- Each emotion serves a function: joy, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust.
- The many values of sadness include the opportunity to receive help and to provide compassion and a safe listening place for others.
- Opinions may “look like” facts but are not facts
- If we find that we live in one emotion, we may realize that our choices and thoughts are limited to what that emotion can see. We need to wear other emotions to see different possibilities.
- While “joy” can be a great motivator, too much can be dangerous.
- Memory is fragile, yet an emotional connection can support memory retention since it resides in a larger part of the brain.
Tips, Tools & Reflections
- In what ways are you allowing your full range of emotions to emerge?
- What difference might it make if you did?
- As a leader, how are you noticing and affirming the value of emotions in others?
- What is the impact it is having on you and your organization’s success?
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