The women of Connect: Professional Women's Network share tips on how to express yourself at work without losing your professional ground. To learn more about Connect or to join the group, visit www.linkedin.com/womenconnect.

1. What Role Do Emotions Have At Work?
The women of Connect: Professional Women’s Network share thoughts
on how to express yourself without losing your professional ground.

2. We all have emotions. Denying them doesn't make us better
leaders. The challenge is to recognize where the impetus for action
is coming from, separate unhelpful emotions from the decision-
Melanie Shimoff making process, and understand how what we do impacts others.
Kwestel
Director of Communications
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3. There are so many different layers of emotions, some for the work
place and some...not so much. You need a balance, but you also
need to stay true. What makes a great leader is not the position
Tammy Dunn she holds, but the passion that holds her.
Field Sales
Support Consultant
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4. Why is emotional considered a "bad word" for women? We are
capable of being strong and emotional. Emotion shows passion,
which is a positive attribute in being successful in all that we as
Deborah Geddis
women do.
Practice Manager at
Banfield Pet Hospital
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5. For me, emotions reveal whether thoughts are positive or negative.
If I feel angry or fearful, I'm probably harboring a negative thought
about myself or another person. If my emotion is joyful and open,
Gloria Chan and puts me in a place of seeing new opportunities, then I know my
Life and Leadership Coach
thoughts are positive.
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6. Maintaining a professional demeanor is especially important for
women in management or leadership positions. Even expressing
frustration can be construed as losing control. If you need to vent,
Gail Allison do it in private, or take a long walk with a close colleague.
Volunteer Facilitator
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7. Emotions/feelings are necessary and part of our intuitive nature. It
is essential to use them as a business tool like any other
component of a well-thought-out plan. You simply must cushion
Carletta Waddler
emotions against irrational or prejudicial behavior.
Professional Training
and Coaching
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8. Emotion is an important part of being a leader. People are not
robots and don't want to work for one. At the same time, having the
ability to be objective and make decisions based on facts is a
Pauline Mulvey
critical skill. Being able to effectively manage emotion is key.
VP Enterprise
Business Technology
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9. Join the conversation!
Connect: Professional Women’s Network, Powered by Citi, is an
online community on LinkedIn that helps women achieve the
careers they want and discuss the issues relevant to their success.
For more great insights from Connect members, check out the
discussions: What do you think about emotion and its effect on
leadership and decision-making? and Does gender matter: Why
emotions impact gender leaders.
Visit linkedin.com/womenconnect for
more information and to join the group!
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