The Power of Emotions

 

According to my results in both self assessments we were asked to take: while I am aware, have decent emotional identification, perception and expression (Emotional Intelligence Test, 2020) and often use proactive coping skills (Coping & Stress Management Skills Test, 2020) I still have a lot of room for growth. Considering my age and stage in life this is not unexpected. While I have done a lot to improve my emotional intelligence, coping, and stress management skills I am aware I have much more to learn still.

I have put in years of time and effort into understanding my emotions, building up my coping skills, and learning to manage stress in a healthier fashion. During all of that I came to the understanding that this would be a lifelong process. It is not something I can perfect as there will be days, I am better at it and days where it is harder to manage. Something to remember though is that “just because you feel a certain way does not mean you must always act on it.” (Alder, Winder, Rosenfeld, & Proctor II, 2020, p. 124). In an office setting it is important to remember when it is acceptable to act on your emotions and when it is better to wait until you get home.

Bottling emotions is not a healthy way to manage them, instead it is best to wait until the initial emotional response has subsided and you have thought through your response (Alder, Winder, Rosenfeld, & Proctor II, 2020, p. 125). This can be done by expressing your emotions through other means and then addressing the situation once you’ve had time to process and think.

For me personally I do my best to keep an eye on my emotions and stress levels. I have medication to take to reduce my anxiety and bolster my emotional coping abilities. In an office setting I bring these things with me to work. I also make sure I have a notebook and plenty of pens. By venting frustrations in the notebook I’m able to keep work relationships more positive. This also allows me to avoid bottling until I can’t function.

If I don’t implement my coping strategies it becomes physically difficult to come into work. I have a harder time dealing with my workload, and struggle to interact with my coworkers. By staying mindful of where I am emotionally and stress wise, I have a better chance of keeping on top of it so I can be effective at work. It keeps my mental health up which improves my ability to do my work.

Being able to read the emotional states of others also allows for improved relations with coworkers. Understanding that a co-worker is upset and taking the time to learn what their coping strategies are allows for fewer conflicts. In situations where you don’t know what they need to cope, being understanding that they are having a bad day helps both parties make it through the day. Something I have found important to remember that the textbook worded quite well is that “listening is both more frequent and less emphasized than speaking. Despite its relative invisibility, listening is at least as important as speaking. Research shows that good listening is vital to both personal and professional success.” (Alder, Winder, Rosenfeld, & Proctor II, 2020, p. 169). The textbook goes on to explain what listening is.

While reading this section and doing the assessments I was reminded that staying on top of my mental health, keeping an eye on my stress levels, and being aware of my emotions is vital to my success in any environment. It is even more vital in environments that are likely to cause more stress such as work or school. Improving my abilities in these areas will go a long way to helping me be more effective in an office workplace. My current awareness levels will allow me to stay aware of others while keeping an eye on my own state. It allows me to help where I can but know my limits.

References

Alder, R. B., Winder, C., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2020). Interplay The Process Of Interpersonal Communication Fifth Canadian Edition. Oxford University Press.

Coping & Stress Management Skills Test. (2020). Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/tests/career/coping-stress-management-skills-test

Emotional Intelligence Test. (2020). Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/tests/personality/emotional-intelligence-test