Real Talk

IF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS ALL ABOUT KNOWING, THEN EMOTIONAL INCLUSION IS ALL ABOUT DOING. Mollie Rogers (Jean de Dieu) EXPLAINS WHY THE LATTER LIES AT THE CRUX OF FOSTERING A MORE PRODUCTIVE AND HAPPIER WORKPLACE.

- Mollie Rogers (Jean de Dieu)

Imagine stepping into a workplace that silently demands you to suppress your emotions, forcing you to quiet your authentic self out of fear or shame. Picture yourself walking through the office doors after enduring a profound personal loss—perhaps the end of a relationship or even the death of a loved one—and feeling compelled to conceal your grief beneath a veneer of stoicism. You could choose to wear your mask of invulnerability and hide behind a facade of so-called professionalism, or you could embrace your emotions in a morally wholesome way that fosters true connection with others. Which would you prefer?

Emotions are vital aspects of the human experience. However, in some workplaces, they are still perceived as a form of weakness or unprofessionalism, leading to a culture where authenticity takes a back seat in an outdated definition of workplace decorum. This is where emotional inclusion comes in: It is an essential catalyst for fostering a thriving professional landscape, not just for the organisation's success, but also for the well-being of every individual within it.

According to American management consulting firm Gallup, the average person spends approximately 81,396 hours working throughout their lifetime—basically making sleep the one thing we do more than work. This staggering measurement underscores the inherent intertwining of our personal and professional lives.

The false notion of separating our “home selves” from our “work selves” is impractical and deeply detrimental. We are whole human beings, and emotional inclusion respects this wholeness by creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to bring their full selves to work—both their joys and struggles—without fear of judgement or ridicule.