So, how can we bring emotions into the conversation in a meaningful way. Don’t confuse being emotional with expressing emotions clearly. Here are three things that you can do in the work environment when you are faced with emotions. 

Step 1: Acknowledge the Emotion: Take a step back and acknowledge your emotion. What emotion are you experiencing (name it) and what could it be telling you (what value or need do you have that is in conflict)? 

Step 2: Remove Judgement: Emotions are not good or bad. 

Step 3: Share the Emotion. If you have had a conflict with someone and you feel like it has not been resolved, discuss the emotion without judgement or blame. Ask for a conversation where you both are not trying to problem solving and neither is monopolizing the conversation, but you both share the emotions that you experienced without judgement. And, then you can move into solving how to move forward together.