Is Being Emotional a Weakness in HR? Exploring the Pros and Cons of Emotional Traits in the Workplace

Dear all,

I somehow feel that this would be an interesting topic to discuss. When interviewing a candidate or in general discussions about a candidate or during reference checks, you will often hear "emotional personality" being mentioned as a weakness. So, is being emotional or possessing an emotional personality a weakness? Basically, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a person with an emotional character in their profession?

Now, the bottom line is, if a candidate is emotional and working in HR, can they perform well, or would it be necessary for them to change this aspect of their personality? Furthermore, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of being emotionally inclined in their profession, specifically as an HR professional?

Please share your views, comments, and suggestions on this topic.

Regards,
Kiran.

Hi Kiran,

Usually, what happens is when we ask a resource about their weaknesses or strengths, most of the time they do not know the answer, and they end up saying that they are emotional. Everyone is emotional; it is just how you utilize it. If I am an emotional person, then I will get attached to my work and company, which is very good. On the other hand, it should not hinder my ability to accept feedback from others, etc.

As HR professionals, we cannot change a person's personality; rather, we should be able to utilize the individual's personality traits that benefit both the company and the individual.

Regards,
Jyothi

Hi Kiran,

First, you should coordinate with them, cool them down, and find out what their actual problem is. This emotional personality type should be managed by HR only. First, agree with them that what they are feeling is right. Then, explain to them where they might have made a mistake and help them see that perspective. They will realize that what you are saying is correct.

Jyothi, who provided the suggestion, is also very nice.

Nagendra
HR Executive
Hyderabad

Dear Ms. Kiran,

Humans have emotions whether they show them or not. The right emotion at the right time is always beneficial for work; otherwise, it can be converted into dedication if not directed properly. The art of turning emotion into dedication lies with the person who is the boss or who assigns tasks to candidates. Training can solve most of the problems that arise from emotional outbursts, but sometimes, some candidates do not cooperate in overcoming emotional imbalances, leaving HR professionals feeling helpless. Patience, perseverance, along with true compassion, can be of some assistance.

I hope this message goes beyond the limits of words.

H. K. VYAS

Hi Kiran,

I would consider the trait of being emotional as a strength for an HR professional because in our line of work, we are required to understand individuals of different kinds. We can only truly have empathy for them if we are emotional.

Of course, by being emotional, I mean being "Rationally Emotional," where we can also see things from the other person's point of view and not just stick to our own perspective due to emotional attachment.

Let me know what you all think.

Regards,
Shraddha

Dear Shradda,

Yes, a very valid point from you. AGREED. But, somehow I feel that it is only one side of the coin. The other side is, what if the other person is trying to take advantage of your emotional personality?

Jyoti, Nagendra, KH Vyas, thanks very much for your inputs.

Actually, I am looking for inputs on "What would be the advantages and disadvantages of an emotional HR professional?"

And Mr. Vyas, This is Kiran (Male) :)

Looking forward to more inputs on this discussion.

Regards,
Kiran

Hello,

I have been reading a lot about the emotional factor of an HR professional. Emotions are basically feelings, and they reflect a lot on your personality in terms of relationship handling, reacting, etc. Being emotional doesn't necessarily mean being touchy or ending up accepting the opposite person's viewpoint or being angry, etc. I believe that among the whole range of emotions, one has to choose which emotion plays best in his or her role. Emotions are present in every living being, let alone humans. I personally feel that as an HR person, one should be highly empathetic to understand the opposite person's thought process and, following that, be able to negotiate in emotionally charged conversations.

Having studied psychology in college for two years, I think I could go on and on; therefore, I will conclude my thoughts here.

Kindly comment.

Regards,
Reena

Hi Kiran,

Like we all say, emotions are a part of us. I think the advantage of being emotional is that you can always put yourself in the resource's shoes and understand the point he or she is trying to share. Moreover, we need to be emotional because we are in HR. If we are like cold-blooded sorts of people, how will the employees come and share their problems with us? It would be worse, right! Another advantage would be we need to be open in our occupation so that it would be easy to interact with people of different attitudes and thinking.

But again, the disadvantage of being emotional is that we tend to be attached to our employees so much that if that person makes a mistake, we would not be able to take the right action because of feelings like "I feel bad I am doing this" or guilty thoughts since we are attached to the resources.

If I have any more extra points, I shall let you know.

Regards,
Ramya

Dear Mr. Kiran,

Emotional personality cannot be considered a weakness provided a person knows how to balance the situation.

Advantages:
- Can aim for perfection/excellence.
- Can achieve career/personal goals.
- Can empathize by putting themselves in others' shoes.

Disadvantages:
If a person knows well when to show/balance emotions, there will be fewer disadvantages.

Nimmy.

Hi,
I personally feel that emotional personality can not be weakness' or strength this is all depend on the organizational/departmental culture /values/ environment.
Regards,
nandwani

Hello,

Emotions and their impact on work culture and work efficiency are very closely related. A person should be trained to remain emotionally balanced in every possible situation, and the same is taught by parents, teachers, and learned through experience. If you are unable to use the techniques to remain emotionally balanced in a particular situation, it is as simple as forgetting what you read while answering an examination. Therefore, each individual should be aware of his/her limits from a behavioral point of view. If the job requires further enhancement of these limits, one must opt for the necessary training or consider seeking a more suitable job.

HKVYAS

I'm new to this site, studying in management 1st year. I think emotions are a part of everyone's personality. Being emotional is not a constant phase; human behavior changes as per situation, time, and experience. One can manage and modulate the thought process through training and practice. There is no switch off and on button for emotional behavior, but the expression of emotions in front of others can be managed.

Different transitions in life, people, places, and culture teach something all the time. So, maintaining emotional balance is very important to concentrate on the task. I apologize if anything is wrong on my side.

Regards,
Priyanka