Why Did We Shut Emotions Out of the Workplace for So Long?
We’ve pushed emotions aside for a long time — as if they didn’t belong in the world of work. It would shock anyone to be asked to leave their phone at reception… but few people still question the idea that we’re expected to leave our emotions at the door.
Our emotions... tThis huge part of who we are as humans.
As if being “professional” meant being cold, logical, detached. That’s what we were taught, right?
For years, the image of a “good professional” was someone who kept a cool head, made decisions based only on facts. Zero emotion. And especially: no feelings in the workplace.
In that paradigm, emotions were seen as disruptions —
weaknesses to hide, even threats to productivity and order.
But how did we get here, to the point of pushing something so essential to our humanity outside the walls of our offices?
A long story — one that started long ago
This way of doing things didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
It came from the industrial era, with its assembly lines, rigid schedules, and standardized models. The goal was efficiency. Employees had to play the role of interchangeable parts in a complex machine.
Emotion was seen as a grain of sand in the gears,
a threat to predictability and measurable performance.
So we learned to lock our emotions away. To pretend they didn’t exist. Or at least: not here, not at work. We were even taught to side-eye anyone who dared show up as their full selves, whether that meant big laughter or tears.
A suit that’s too tight
We learned to “keep it to ourselves,” to stay calm no matter what. To smile without getting too excited. To take the hits and say nothing. And for many, it became automatic. A mask. The so-called “professional costume” we put on in the morning.
Employees were expected to wear a “professional mask” and suppress their real emotions just to fit into some outdated image of what professionalism looks like.
A friend of mine, Aurore, told me the other day that she was once told: “When you show up to work, it’s like the Actor’s Studio.” That says a lot about how alive these practices still are today!
But under the mask… there’s a person. With doubts. With needs. With anger, sometimes. And when you push all that down day after day… it starts to weigh on you. Sometimes it even starts to affect your health.
And here’s what it cost us to shut emotions out…
When we cut ourselves off from our emotions, we don’t gain control. We lose connection. And productivity doesn’t improve when:
👉 Teams no longer feel safe to speak honestly.
👉 Ideas stay stuck in people’s throats.
👉 People disconnect, little by little.
👉 Conflicts simmer like pressure cookers because we don’t have the right words.
👉 A quiet, creeping exhaustion shows up — and no one knows how to name it anymore.
In business speak, that sounds like:
👉 Disengagement and demotivation: Employees who don’t feel seen, heard, or valued tend to disconnect.
👉 Unresolved conflict: Tension and misunderstanding grow when there’s no emotional intelligence in communication.
👉 Burnout and distress: Constantly repressing emotions is exhausting. It leads to stress, anxiety, and eventually, burnout.
👉 Lack of innovation: Environments that discourage vulnerability and expression block creativity, risk-taking, and fresh ideas.
👉 High turnover: Talented people look for workplaces where they feel respected and fulfilled — not just used for their technical skills.
Ironically, the consequences of excluding emotions are now
the exact problems companies spend a fortune trying to fix… without ever considering this:
What if the real starting point is helping teams develop emotional intelligence?
But things are changing!
Hallelujah, the tide is turning! We’re starting to see emotions differently, not as flaws, but as valuable information.
Today, they’re recognized as sources of motivation, the glue that holds teams together, the fuel for innovation, and a key indicator of well-being.
Emotional intelligence is becoming a core skill. Not just for coaches or HR, but as a real tool to work better together. To build trust. To weather storms without breaking. To inspire each other to perform and grow into our best selves.
We’re not here to “bring the drama”!
Bringing emotions into the workplace doesn’t mean turning it into a Netflix rom-com. It simply means allowing people to be a little more real, a little more aligned, and a lot more fulfilled at work.
What does emotional intelligence actually bring to everyday work?
👂 more honest, direct communication
💬 more connected and engaged teams
⚡ decisions that are grounded in reality
🌱 workplaces that reflect the people who live in them
We don’t have to choose between performance and humanity anymore. Emotional intelligence is just as powerful as cognitive intelligence. And when we connect the two that’s when something amazing happens.
So the question isn’t: Should we let emotions in?
The real question is: What are we waiting for to open the door just a little wider?
Enough talk. It’s time to act. Let’s take a moment to explore how we can bring real humanity back to your teams, your managers, or your entire organization.
Reach out ! There’s always a way forward!