Perceived Emotion

Have you ever closed your eyes in a meeting?

Like in a 1-on-1, was the other person talking, and you just shut your eyes? Them thinking you might be nodding off or bored with what they’re saying? I bet that was uncomfortable for them.

Some people, like myself, close their eyes to get a better perception of the emotions in the room. People tend to read others' emotions more accurately when they listen and don't look, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Emotions come as part of the package when you interact with other people. Unless you’re lucky enough to only work with robots. In which case, please DM me and let me know how you pulled that off.

But, are you extremely cautious around emotional coworkers? Do they make you uncomfortable? Are you afraid you might make it worse if you say something?

If you are, let’s start out slow and build up your emotional intelligence (EQ) by practicing perceived emotion.

Emotion perception is your ability to detect, understand, and organize emotional stimuli, conveyed by another's face, body posture, voice, and contextual information, to facilitate proper interpersonal communication.

As mentioned above, you might be better at this listening rather than looking, so let’s start there. Practice listening to audio of people in emotional states. Test yourself. After some practice, begin looking at pictures of the same, and put the two together with video samples.

Definitely, do not wait around for these instances to occur in your life or at work. Actively practice. Watch movies, listen to music, read books, and if you need help, research what others determine the emotions to be and compare what you thought.

What emotions did Gandalf express when he found Frodo and Sam on Mount Doom?

Be mindful of your own emotions and feelings. All the feels - the ones you like and the ones you don’t. Reference this Attentional Focus article for more tips. You should always take time throughout your day to reflect on events, discussions, and meetings; add your emotional states to this reflection time to help build perceived emotion.

There’s no need to dive, head first, into consoling a saddened co-worker or calming an angry teammate. Start, simply, by understanding and perceiving their emotions. Build your confidence so you know what emotions they’re feeling through their expressions. Solidify this foundation before easing into resolution and support.