Crying Is Good For You (Even At Work)

Crying at work occurs at all levels of management — and is more accepted than most would think, according to a study by Anne Kreamer.

Say, for example, your boyfriend breaks up with you the morning of a big meeting at work. You try your best to keep it together to maintain respect, but he was “the one” and you just can’t keep it in. So, your tear ducts fill up and pour onto your face. You feel like baby and an idiot, allowing your fellow workers view you in such a manner. But, as it turns out, most of them are simply feeling sympathy for you. You are human, after all.

Kreamer’s study of 700 people found that 41 percent of women and 9 percent of men have cried at work. Many were harsher on themselves for crying than if another employee was the one shedding tears. If we’re not judging others harshly, then they’re not judging us!

Career coach Roslind Toybnee may not be big on tears, but believes that showing emotions and vulnerability is actually showing strength in the workplace. It means you’re capable of relating to other people.

As women, we are known as the more emotional sex. So, one might expect men to be less understanding of our emotions and simply add fuel to our fires of anguish after showing our vulnerable side. But the study also found that men are much more understanding than we thought they were.

So, your intimidating older male boss may actually not be judging you as harshly as you’d expect for showing emotion. In actuality, he is probably refreshed that you are human after dealing with some position-stealing men who wouldn’t dare to show their softer side.

Let’s be honest. Even if some do believe emotions should be separate from work, it is much harder nowadays. As work becomes less of a 9 to 5 position and more of a laptop-toting, blackberry responding, any time of day situation, it is understandable to expect some real-life emotions to leak out. And as your vulnerability makes you more capable of relating to clients, you may actually get a raise because of it. Bring on the Kleenex.

Contact the author here: crazycolleen@morningquickie.com