Emotions in the Business World

In a very recent conversation I had with friends, I had a pretty interesting realization. Apparently, people perceive me very much like a "cold-hearted, calculating robot". They felt that I have a tendency to rule-out emotions in my calculus of situations. This is not a statement I entirely disagree with. I really do put a lot less emphasis on short term emotional states when it comes to decision making.

I had felt for a long time that outside of being emotionally aware of other people, emotions had no place in business. How does one factor emotions or feelings into decisions? Furthermore emotions can sometimes be counterproductive to the overall goals of the business. When a firm stand needs to be taken, emotions can get in the way of an efficient solution.

But recently I feel my perspective on this topic has changed. I don't believe, we as contributors to a business or project are just a means of labor any more. Gone are the ways of Henry Ford and the human manufacturing line. I feel that in the future, there will be a greater trend of hiring people for not just their skills or labour, but also for their mind space. Their ability to reason, the emotions they inspire in others and their personal beliefs.

I believe this because of what I have been seeing more and more frequently. People from various backgrounds, cultures and social levels spend so much effort, time and money on what they are truly passionate about. For a long time, I couldn't understand it. Why did people go to such lengths for something so valueless, it's not like they were ever going to become famous or get a job for what they were doing. But I have come to understand that it's out of love, passion or a belief, that people exceed what is usually expected of them and achieve something much greater. Just like how Simon Sinek said in his TedTalk speech,  

"If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears."

I always feel that when working with my team mates, that I am getting far more than what I deserve. I've been able to promise them nothing as a reward, but they go far above and beyond to help and work with me. Even going as far as improving their own skills to deal with this new, greater challenge. I realize, it's not so much the "what" we are doing that is driving them, but the "why". "Our" goal has meaning to them and feels different to the normal work, contracts and assignment we take daily.

I realize now that what truly inspires people to achieve higher than what is expected of them is emotions. For a long time, I've kept every emotion in check, believing them to be signs of recklessness. But I now know that their existence in business is vital for the future. Of course there needs to be some moderation, but I'd take the passionate over the skilled any day. Furthermore it's my role as a leader to ignite the flames of passion and keep them burning hot, I can't do that if my own heart is unlit.