As the last of her laptop battery drained, Sarah managed to craft the final elements of the project she was working on. She was deeply exhausted from the effort, but proud of her accomplishment. Clicking send, she crept into bed in the early hours of Monday morning and awoke too early to her phone pinging.
It was a message from her manager saying, “I’ve just finished going through your work, and I have to say that your work on this project was very disappointing. I honestly expected more.”
Sarah’s heart sank; a wave of sadness, anger, despair, confusion and frustration hit her like an ice-cold 8-footer off the north shore. The message had a profound impact on her self-esteem and motivation, leaving her questioning her abilities.
Despite how tired she was, there was no getting back to sleep now – should she call her manager? Email her? WhatsApp her?
What would you do if it was your life that had just been side-swiped by a harsh message?
Emotions are an integral part of our lives. They are the threads that weave the rich tapestry of our human experience, allowing us to feel joy, sadness, love, and countless other emotions. These feelings are vital to our well-being, as they help us navigate the complexities of life and build connections with others.
However, it’s essential to be mindful of our emotional states, particularly when we’re interacting with others.
When we communicate from a heightened emotional state, we risk damaging relationships and creating misunderstandings.
This is especially true in professional settings, where it’s crucial to maintain a balance between expressing our emotions and preserving the integrity of our working relationships.
We need to recognise the power of emotions while simultaneously practising self-awareness and restraint when responding to situations that evoke strong feelings.
Maintaining professionalism and keeping potentially harmful emotions out of written communication is essential for maintaining positive, respectful and effective relationships in the workplace or with clients.
Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
- Stay objective: Focus on facts, data, and concrete information, rather than subjective opinions or feelings. This helps keep your message grounded and avoids potential emotional pitfalls.
- Take a break: If you feel emotional, take a step back and give yourself some time to cool off before responding. This will allow you to approach the situation with a clear mind and avoid emotionally-charged language. If possible, wait at least a day before responding.
- Reread and revise: Before sending any written communication, read it over carefully to ensure there are no emotionally-charged words or phrases. Edit as necessary to maintain a professional tone.
- Use neutral language: Choose words that are neutral and unbiased. Avoid using language that could be perceived as aggressive, sarcastic, or overly emotional.
- Be concise and clear: Keep your message brief and to the point, focusing on the essential information. This helps prevent any misinterpretations or emotional misunderstandings.
- Show empathy and understanding: Acknowledge the other person’s perspective and show empathy for their situation, while maintaining a professional tone.
- Use proper formatting: Ensure that your written communication is well-structured, with proper punctuation and grammar. This not only enhances readability but also conveys professionalism.
- Seek feedback: If you’re unsure about the tone of your message, ask a trusted colleague or friend to review it and provide feedback.
- Avoid using all caps and excessive exclamation marks: These can be perceived as aggressive or overly emotional.
- Practice emotional intelligence: Develop your self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy skills to manage your emotions effectively and understand the emotions of others.
It’s not really a matter of wondering “if this will ever happen to you”, rather it’s about preparing for “when it happens”.
By incorporating these strategies into your written communication, you can maintain a professional tone and minimize the chances of harmful emotions affecting your relationships and work environment.
