Don’t Fear Feelings in Business

“I know we don’t do emotions much here, but I’m going to ask you to go there for a minute,” I said. The leaders around the table looked up from their phones and laptops, their faces reflecting equal parts skepticism and amusement. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to hug each other or cry during our time together. I promise.” We all laughed as oxygen returned to the room. “Who can remember a time when they had a leader who was an incredible champion for them? A person who advocated for you and was a partner in your career development?” Hands went up around the room. “What did that feel like?” I asked. “Empowering,” one person said. “Motivating,” said another. “It made me more loyal,” said someone on video. “And what about the opposite? Who remembers a time when you felt completely on your own in your career?” More hands. “Tell me about that,” I said. At the end of our exchange I shared data about our organization, updated them on the global goal I’m driving this year... Their phones went into their pockets. Their laptops shut. I had gotten their attention with a brave act... had piqued their interest with numbers. But I kept their attention because I asked them to tap into a place they didn’t always frequent at the office—their hearts. Don’t fear feelings in business. Harness them.