MANAGING EMOTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE: DO POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES DRIVE PERFORMANCE?
YOU KNOW THE TYPE: COWORKERS WHO NEVER HAVE ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY, WHETHER AT THE WEEKLY STAFF MEETING OR IN THE CAFETERIA LINE. THEY CAN SUCK THE ENERGY FROM A BRAINSTORMING SESSION WITH A FEW CHOICE COMMENTS. THEIR BAD MOOD FREQUENTLY PUTS OTHERS IN ONE, TOO. THEIR NEGATIVITY CAN CONTAMINATE EVEN GOOD NEWS. “WE ENGAGE IN EMOTIONAL CONTAGION,” SAYS SIGAL BARSADE, A WHARTON MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR WHO STUDIES THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS ON THE WORKPLACE. “EMOTIONS TRAVEL FROM PERSON TO PERSON LIKE A VIRUS.”