Humanity is a mosaic of emotions, a symphony of experiences that span the spectrum from joy to sorrow, love to hate, and everything in between. Many scientists have tried to boil human emotions down to seven or eight universal emotional expressions, with some suggesting that humans experience 17 million combinations of emotions in a lifetime. The research is ongoing, and from what I can see, some breakthrough thinking is being reached. What we do know for sure is that we humans are complex, and so are our emotions.
In watching the myriad faces of humanity in the past couple of months during the Gaza onslaught, I wanted to delve into some of the insights that can be gleaned from the complex tapestry of human emotions that unite us. This is not the first time I have spoken about emotions (see a speech from the University of Canberra graduation), and I wanted to expand on my understanding in light of the slew of emotions we have seen on our screens, from sorrow, pain, cruelty, and callous disregard to joy and love. And explore briefly what we can learn as leaders.
In this blog post, I focus on five areas of human emotions I have seen (noting that this is more my limitation – and word count! – than the emotions we see displayed). These are anger, passion, grief, cruelty and joy. I explore how we might use these human emotions for something constructive and worthy and what, as leaders, we can learn from these emotions.
Harnessing the power of anger
Anger, often perceived as a negative emotion, can catalyse change when channelled constructively. The lessons from anger lie in recognising its signals, understanding the root causes, and using it as a motivational force for positive action. Harnessing the energy of anger can drive us to address injustices, set boundaries, and advocate for change in our lives and the lives of others. As leaders, we can use it to see where problems might stem from and resolve issues before anger turns into something less constructive.
So, I am clear: I am not advocating for suppressing emotions because they are “negative”. What I do advocate for is that if we feel anger, we feel it (without harming ourselves or others). To recognise that anger is telling us something, and one question to ask ourselves is: “What is this anger telling me about me?”
I think anger helps us cultivate emotional intelligence because learning to express anger healthily, such as through effective communication, promotes self-awareness. As leaders, we cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and others by embracing this emotion with a mindful approach.
Unleashing passion
While passion is not an emotion per se, it does encompass a whole slew of emotions, such as excitement, craving and ardour. I truly believe that passion, coupled with purpose, is the fuel that propels us toward our goals and dreams. Learning from the intensity of passion involves recognising our deepest desires and channelling that energy into creative pursuits. Whether in work, relationships, or personal hobbies, embracing passion and purpose allows us to tap into our full human potential. As leaders, if we can understand our people’s passion and purpose, we can tap into how best to help them achieve those desires.
It is important to note that while passion and purpose are potent forces, maintaining balance is crucial. Lessons from intense passion and focused purpose include the importance of self-awareness, knowing when to take a step back, and ensuring that our enthusiasm does not overshadow other aspects of our lives.
Additionally, as leaders, we might be so focused on our passion projects and the purpose of the mission that we override people in the pursuit. I know I have done this in the past, and while it was all well-intentioned, it does not go a long way in building allies and robust relationships. So, take the balanced approach and remember that not everyone will be as passionate and, on the mission, as you, the leader. Your job is to bring people on the same page as you. Not browbeat them into it.
The universality of grief
Grief is a universal experience, transcending cultural, geographic, and social boundaries. Understanding the universality of loss fosters empathy and connects us to the shared human experience. I think this is an essential emotion for leaders to embrace. As leaders, we can see the importance of empathy, the need for compassionate leadership during times of hardship, and the transformative power of acknowledging and navigating through collective emotional experiences within a team or organisation.
Grief is especially relevant during downturns and layoffs. Never underestimate the loss that people might be experiencing during these periods – even if they are not the ones getting laid off. They will still feel grief and loss for their colleagues and the environment they used to have. Many change programs have gone by the wayside because leaders did not quite understand the loss that the people felt because of the change. Address the sense of grief and loss if you want to have successful projects!
Examining cruelty
While I hope we never experience cruelty in the workplace as leaders, it would be silly to think this does not happen. If human emotions, the good, the bad and the ugly, are on full display in our society, why would they not be on full display in organisations? It is part of our job as leaders to be on the lookout for any form of cruelty, such as bullying, harassment, verbal abuse, gaslighting and discrimination. Yes, these are all forms of cruelty in the workplace that perhaps we do not pin that label on, but that is what they are: cruel behaviours.
Cruelty is generally defined “as the intentional infliction of physical or mental suffering or harm to another person or living being”. It involves actions or behaviour that cause pain, distress, or anguish, often characterised by a lack of empathy, compassion, or consideration for the well-being of others. So perhaps we can look at some of the behaviours we see in our organisations in a new light.
As leaders, we need to confront cruelty. Confronting cruelty necessitates choosing empathy over apathy. Learning to stand against injustice, support those who are vulnerable, and actively work towards a more compassionate society and workplace is vital. Everything from small acts of kindness to supporting marginalised or underrepresented cohorts to fostering understanding and acceptance can counteract the corrosive effects of cruelty.
Nurturing joy
Joy, often celebrated as a positive emotion, teaches us the importance of gratitude and mindfulness. Recognising and savouring moments of joy, no matter how fleeting, enhances our overall well-being. As leaders, we can spread joy in workplaces by fostering a positive and inclusive culture, acknowledging and celebrating individual and team achievements, promoting healthy work-life integration, and encouraging open communication and a sense of camaraderie among employees. Simple gestures of appreciation, recognition, and support go a long way in creating a joyful and motivated work environment. You might be interested in this blog post on appreciation.
Final thoughts
While I have listed each emotion separately, it would be remiss of me not to highlight that there is a strong interconnectedness of emotions. We can have quantum feelings of joy and sorrow, love and hate, disappointment and optimism or any other combination of two or more emotions. Understanding that this intertwining exists allows us to navigate the complexities of our emotional landscape with greater awareness.
In wrapping up this complex topic, I believe our humanity presents us with a profound tapestry of emotions, each offering valuable lessons for personal growth and societal understanding. From the fiery depths of anger to the exuberant heights of passion, from the sombre corridors of grief and cruelty to the celebratory dance of joy, emotions shape our experiences, relationships, and perceptions.
By acknowledging and learning from the complexities of our human emotions, we cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. The lessons from anger guide us towards constructive action, passion fuels our creative endeavours, grief fosters compassion, empathy counters cruelty, while joy brings appreciation and recognition. In embracing this rich tapestry, we unravel the interconnected threads that weave us together as a global community bound by the shared experience of being human. And who wouldn’t want that?
And as always, if you invest in yourself (and your humanity), the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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