Question

Read the article entitled "Faster than a Speeding Text" link is here: "Faster than a Speeding Text" by Sigal Barsade and answer the following questions:

A. Discuss a communication event in which you experienced emotional contagion. What was the outcome?

B. Why is it important to be aware of emotional contagion theory? At work? At home?

Answer 1

• Emotional Contagion is the ability to influence the emotions and behaviors of others, either directly or indirectly. Emotional contagion is used as a strategy in work settings and relationships. Our brain adapts to an “emotional culture” and it helps us to read other’s emotions to show us how appropriate our responses should be.
• Neurologists have found that mirror neurons are responsible for this phenomenon and are a useful learning tool.
• Emotional Contagion is the result of our own and others’ interpretations of thoughts and feelings. The result is expressed via mimicry and facial expressions.
• For instance, I made plans with a friend but I needed to cancel and perhaps I didn’t want to go in the first place. So I called up my friend and told her, that it’s a pity, but in reality, I felt a sense of relief. This is an example where one’s thoughts and behaviors don’t match.,in this case,mine.
• But you wouldn’t want to tell your friend that you didn’t want to go after all and that you’re ultimately relieved, right? A situation like this uses emotional contagion to let us act appropriately and remain successful in our emotional climate. Self-control and afferent feedback processes allow us to execute this correct emotional behavior.
• From facial expressions to moods and attitudes, one good or bad attitude can spread across your culture from employee to employee. And contrary to the traditional view that we should leave our feelings at home, we actually can’t. Feelings don’t go anywhere, even when we try to repress them they simply come out in other, uncontrolled ways that have a powerful impact on our performance and company culture.  
  
• One negative encounter in the morning can easily color all the interactions we have in day and even come home with us in the evening which is why it’s so important to actively manage the emotions in your workplace.
• Because employees pay great attention to their leaders’ emotions, leaders can strongly influence the mood, and thus attitudes and performance, of their teams through emotional contagion.
• Organisational culture can have an impact on emotions. Organisations which encourage styles of working that are likely to suppress emotions can, in turn, have a negative effect as suppressing positive or negative emotions is associated with high stress.
• Ironically, carefully worded value statements encouraging us to be happy and upbeat at all times might well be having the opposite effect.
• When leaders learn to consciously manage their own emotions and understand the emotional triggers of others, they can become a potent force for good within the workplace. As long as management and leaders still cling to worn-out beliefs like “there is no place for emotions in the workplace” we’ll still be subject to harsh and toxic cultures that are inherently anti-productive.
  
• Due to time limit,any remaining questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation