How to Create a Productive Workplace Environment by Showing Emotion

Low productivity is a serious issue throughout the workforce these days.

There are lots of reasons for this, but one of the most common is the fact that lots of employees are working in high-stress environments. In fact, 65 percent of U.S. employees say that work is a major source of stress for them.

You may not be able to eliminate workplace stress altogether. However, you can still boost productivity and workplace morale by showing emotion and being more open as a manager or business owner. Read on to learn how this helps and how you can start doing it today.

How Emotion Contributes to a Productive Workplace Environment

There are lots of reasons why showing more emotion as a boss can have a powerful impact on your employees. Some of the benefits of showing emotion include the following:

Show Them That You’re Human

Often, employees see their bosses as robots or overly stoic people who are devoid of emotion. This can cause them to put their bosses on a pedestal or even start to fear them. If you make a habit of showing emotion (in a positive and productive way), your employees will see that you’re not so different from them.

If your employees feel that they can relate with you, they’re going to be more inclined to come to you if they have a problem.

Showing emotion can help you to encourage sharing and communication between yourself and your employees. This, in turn, can help you to solve problems faster and learn about new ideas that can bring more value to the company since your employees won’t be afraid to talk to you.

Show Employees That They’re Valued

If you’re not afraid of showing emotion, it’ll be easier for you to recognize good work and show your employees that you value them. If you show genuine happiness when they do something well or genuine concern when they’re going through a difficult time, they’ll know that you see them as more than just cogs in a machine.

Productive Emotions in the Workplace

Showing emotion can definitely help to lower stress and bolster productivity. Of course, the key to doing this is to make sure you’re showing your emotions in a helpful way.

Losing your temper might be an example of showing emotion, but it’s not going to improve morale in your office. However, showing genuine excitement when an employee does something well can work wonders for improving employee engagement and reducing stress.

If employees know that they’re going to be recognized when they go above and beyond, they’re going to be more inclined to do so in the future. This, in turn, makes your workplace more productive and helps to boost your bottom line.

Tips for Showing Emotion in a Productive Way

If you’re new to the concept of showing emotions and being more emotionally intelligent, you might be feeling a bit lost about how to start. Here are some key tips that can help:

Be an Active Listener

Make sure that you’re paying attention to what your employees are saying and how they say it. This will help you to empathize with them and respond in an appropriate way.

Treat Others How You’d Want to Be Treated

When in doubt, treat others the way you’d want to be treated. Would you want positive recognition and a smile when you do something well? If so, then you ought to do the same for your employees.

Take a Deep Breath Before You Respond

When you’re dealing with a difficult matter or listening to criticism, take a deep breath before you respond. This will give you a chance to collect your thoughts and show emotion with your response without overreacting.

Don’t Be Afraid to Apologize

Remember, the point of showing more emotion at work is to show your employees that you’re human. Another way to show that you’re human is to acknowledge when you make a mistake and apologize.

Don’t be afraid to admit fault and tell someone that you’re sorry. If you’re genuine in your approach, your employees will appreciate you even more for it.

Start Creating a Productive Workplace Today

As you can see, showing emotion doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and it definitely doesn’t make you weak or ineffective as a leader. In fact, showing emotions and being more vulnerable with your employees can make it easier for you to figure out how to create a more productive workplace.

The idea of being more open with your emotions might seem scary at first. If you keep these tips in mind, though, you’ll have an easier time showing a different side of yourself and connecting with your employees.

If you’re looking for some tools to help you show emotions and let your employees know that you appreciate them, check out KudosBot today. This service works through Slack and makes it easy for you to give shout outs to people and recognize their hard work.