Emotions matter at work (moving towards Emotional Quotient)

Emotions matter at work (moving towards Emotional Quotient)

If I really think of it, this incident was both impressive & intriguing for me. In one of my experiential jobs a colleague of mine had shared her wisdom and if I can clearly recall yes, it was my first job. She had said, “I cannot be/should not be what I am in my personal life while I am at work. My personal image & professional image should be different”.

That was may be my first moment of ‘external intimidation’ at work. According to me, this external intimidation is the outcome of your lack of self-assurance & over inhibition of following the mediocrity. Back then it helped me like my guideline to specially get accustomed to the hospitality industry. And of course it seemed logical, after all no matter how much I hate the finicky guest I can’t gather the nerve to say this to him upfront. Irony of a lot of service industries. Those who belong to it, surely know what I am talking about. Hence the worldly accepted rule of ‘Smiling & being courteous to them no matter what!’ was the mission of all the employees. I don’t deny the fact that being genuine all the time isn’t possible. And that human tendency can be covered only by faking sometimes especially when you have to get your work done. Gradually like many I also started believing in the fact that your emotions need to be kept aside while you are at work. One has to be detached from sensitivity & just meticulously carry out his assigned task.

All these years of this worldly accepted belief started bugging me from inside. As much as I tried following it, I felt going away from myself. I couldn’t work for long time at many places & could never find the exact reason. Sometimes blamed the company, sometimes myself or otherwise just the situation. However this internal confusion made me really uncomfortable. My heart kept telling me that you are doing right & the logical messenger of the outside world kept shutting the heart’s voice. Life was going on like usual but this puzzle was constantly making me restless.

It surely puts a smile on my face when I think of the places where it didn’t matter how long I worked, but I lived thoroughly. And when I managed to go back to those days and analyze what exactly made the difference, the answer was, “I was being myself.” I allowed myself to work beyond any apprehension only when I received those connecting vibes from the people around me. I could give my 100% because I felt valued, confident, appreciated. I enjoyed my work, the environment & more importantly the people with similar wavelength. So all these factors had nothing to do with emotions? Is it? I revisited my inner confusion & that’s when a new insight hit me harder than a thunderstorm. “One cannot work without being emotionally involved”.  

We all say when we leave a job that we actually leave the boss or the people. Why many of us believe in this fact if our logic tells us to keep emotions in a baggage deep inside us? I need to feel at home mentally wherever I work. Or else the cold-wars, so called politics, silent hatred and fakeness would drain my energy to such extreme that I will no longer work for myself but for my superficial survival. And trust me the materialistic happiness has no contribution in bringing inner peace or genuine happiness. It’s as showy as your monthly paying unsatisfying job.

Well, there are no places where conflict would not take place or obstacles may not occur. But I shouldn’t lose the hope to sort those problems. And such hope can be completely lost when my emotional needs are being stamped. If my enormous energy is never being used then what’s the use of even living. I mean, just imagine someone asking you, “what do you do for survival?”, the subconscious might answer, “something that kills me every minute!”. If in case you are trapped like this and one day you recognize this truth then it’s never too late to believe in your instinct & take the right steps to bring the change.

The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is being desired and chased by many, but it’s the need of the hour for the human race to work on their Emotional Quotient (EQ).  Perhaps not only in the books & movies but in practical work-life as well. At a time, simple and complex ability to understand, learn and manage your own emotions & other’s emotions. Who knows the ‘Kaliyuga’ might also turn as a bearable place to live together, evolve & thrive!