Managers should know more about Emotions

Organizational psychologist calls for a more playful and caring leadership. Our emotions control us more than we like to admit – even in the workplace. According to the Norwegian organizational psychologist, Morten Eikeland, emotions has had far too little attention in management theories. “Managers should be aware of an unconscious processes that have a major influence on the interaction between employees,” he says. Eikeland’s views are based on research conducted by neuropsychologists and social psychologists, who explore the role of emotions in organizations and leadership. In a recently published review article in a Norwegian journal of economics and management, he points out that emotions and reactions are hardwired in the brain by evolution. “We are social animals, and emotions provide us with information that affects the thoughts, behaviour and health of other people and ourselves”, Eikeland says. He believes that emotional expertise and awareness in managers can have a huge impact on how successful they are – and for the well-being of the employees. There is, however, little empirical research on how biological sense systems affect teamwork and leadership.

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