The Power of Emotional Investment at Work

​Many of us have been conditioned to believe that showing emotions at work is unprofessional, and that we should keep our personal and professional lives separate. However, this thinking (when taken too far) can create deep dissatisfaction and lead to keeping a distance, not between ourselves and our careers, but ourselves and others in the workplace. 
 
One of the most significant consequences of being afraid to get emotionally invested at work is you may become disengaged and detached from your work and organization. This can lead to decreased productivity, perceived poor job performance, and/or a lack of engagement in what your team and organization does. When you don't feel emotionally invested in your work, you’re less likely to take risks, try new things, or take on challenging projects. This reduces your access to professional growth opportunities that can keep your skills relevant and make work more interesting.
 
Another consequence of being afraid to get emotionally invested at work is you may miss out on building meaningful relationships with your colleagues. While it’s prudent to hold some emotions in check, endeavoring not to feel anything meaningful may make you seem distant and disinterested to others.  You may not be as open and authentic with others, and could miss out on opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and friendship. This could also mean you become less receptive to feedback and constructive criticism. You may then become defensive or closed off, and this can hinder your ability to learn and grow from your experiences (and have others learn and grow from your expertise).
 
Not getting emotionally invested at work means you lose access to something very important that all humans need – a connection to your efforts, being able to feel the purposefulness of your work.  When you shut down emotions it is indiscriminate – it cuts you off from all your feelings (welcome and unwelcome), not just the feels you don’t want to experience.  This is how you lose access to the joy of your profession, how you’re separated from the meaning that’s vital to have a career you can enjoy through contribution and personal pride.  If this is happening to you, it could be a sign of burnout.  Burnout creates a dis-connect between your actions and your needs, which includes your ability to care about work, or to care about yourself at work.
 
In contrast, when you allow yourself to become emotionally invested in your work, you experience a range of positive outcomes. You feel more fulfilled, engaged, and motivated, and are more open to feedback and constructive criticism. You may also be more likely to take on new challenges, form meaningful relationships with your co-workers, and ultimately achieve greater success in your career, creating a work life you can love.  The benefits here include getting energized at work, not depleted, connecting to your accomplishments in healthy ways that support work/life sustainability.
 
Overall, it's important to recognize that emotions play a significant role in your work life. Monitor your emotional connection to yourself and your work to check for signs and risks of burnout.  While it's true that you should be professional, don’t be afraid to bring your whole self to work by investing emotionally.  Laugh out loud, feel the respect and belonging that’s there, let it touch you.  Opening yourself to emotions at work means there will sometimes be disappointment, or sadness, even anger, but there’s no avoiding these feelings from time to time at work or in life.  By letting yourself get emotionally invested at work you unlock new opportunities for growth, learning, and connection.

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