Tears can flow at inopportune times. Like when you’re at work trying to come across as a professional that has it all together. There, there — dry your eyes and tell everyone it’s because you care so damn much.
Image via CBS.
A new study, led by Elizabeth Baily Wolf of Harvard Business School, suggests there’s a good way to cover up the tracks of your tears. Throughout a series of five experiments, Wolf and her colleagues found that participants who said their tears were due to an emotional investment in their work were considered to be more competent than those who blamed other causes. For example, participants that said the root cause was team member conflict, or that they were “just being emotional”, were rated as less competent. So, cry at work if you have to. But if you get busted, use it as an opportunity to show what a great worker you are.
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One response to “If You’re Going To Cry At Work, Blame It On Passion”
This is terrible, terrible advice. The utmost worst. If you cry at work, your superiors will believe there’s deeper seated issues at hand. Be seen to be taking proactive control of the situation and organise to see a counsellor to sort out your issues at once.
But what would I know, I was only a manager once who could tell when Employees were bullshitting me with excuses like this…