Some behaviours in the workplace provoke highly emotional responses. Some behaviour that might be acceptable in private, is deemed unacceptable at work. So your private self and your professional self can occupy different worlds. A private life is expected, private is not “secret”, it’s just either no one else’s business, not related to work or other people do not want to know!
Would you expect a professional to:
- Comment about a colleague on Facebook?
- Arrive at a meeting a few minutes late?
- Not bother with an exit interview because the employee was leaving anyway?
- Tweet that their boss has got lipstick on her teeth?
- Have dirty dishes on their desk?
- Discuss the financial problems they are having at home in the lunchroom?
- Turn up to work in tracksuit pants?
It is pretty obvious that there are some parts of you that you leave at home when you come to work. But emotions are with us all the time…or are they?
People who are emotionally intelligent know when to express their emotions and when not. People who are emotionally intelligent know that some behaviour or topics are not appropriate at work. Some behaviour is not just inappropriate; it might even be illegal.
Learning Portfolio
Complete exercise 11 in your Learning Portfolio.
