Emotions critical for future of work: McLean & Company study
TORONTO, CANADA — Global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has highlighted the critical role of emotions in the modern workplace.
The firm’s latest research, “Demystifying Emotions in the Workplace,” stresses that future-focused organizations must drive a healthy emotional culture to enhance productivity, engagement, and overall performance.
The growing importance of emotional health at work
The study underscores that employees can no longer compartmentalize their emotions due to blurred work-life boundaries, global crises, AI concerns, economic uncertainty, and political tensions.
“Creating an emotionally healthy culture founded on inclusion, psychological safety, and conflict resolution is critical to organizational performance and fostering employee engagement,” says Grace Ewles, director of HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company.
“An emotional culture does not mean emotions run wild. Rather, a healthy emotional culture encourages the appropriate expression and regulation of emotions in line with organizational norms and values.”
Three categories of emotional culture
McLean & Company categorizes organizational emotional cultures into three types:
- Emotionally Suppressive — Characterized by retributive behaviors, toxic positivity, burnout, and avoidance.
- Emotionally Healthy — Defined by psychological safety, effective conflict resolution, holistic wellbeing approaches, and a sense of inclusion and belonging.
- Emotionally Unregulated — Marked by impulsive behaviors, gossip, disrespect, and lack of boundaries.
The firm asserts that all organizations possess an emotional culture, whether acknowledged or not. To thrive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, prioritizing emotional wellbeing is as crucial as any other organizational priority.
Employees cannot separate their emotions from work, and rather than avoiding them altogether, organizations need to be proactive about how emotions and work can coexist and ultimately thrive. https://t.co/g6fNeRexQU#Stress #Emotions #HandlingEmotions pic.twitter.com/YpfyrOkUrT
— McLean & Company (@HRMcLeanCo) July 17, 2024
Shared responsibility for emotional health
While HR plays a crucial role, McLean & Company explains that creating and maintaining an emotionally healthy workplace is a collective effort. From executives to frontline employees, everyone contributes to the emotional culture of an organization.
“When we understand what emotions are and what they are not, we’re less likely to misinterpret our own emotions and reinforce negative thoughts around them or mislabel and stereotype others based on their emotions,” said Ewles.
“For example, feeling sad doesn’t have to mean someone is in a bad mood, while having a bad day doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a negative person. Recognizing these differences in ourselves and others can create empathy and understanding in the workplace and contribute to a healthier emotional culture.”
McLean & Company’s report serves as a wake-up call for businesses to recognize the importance of emotions in driving productivity, engagement, and ultimately, success in the evolving work landscape.
