Predicting workplace outcomes from the ability to eavesdrop on feelings.
Emotion recognition, the most reliably validated component within the construct of emotional intelligence, is a complicated skill. Although emotion recognition skill is generally valued in the workplace, "eavesdropping," or relatively better recognition ability with emotions expressed through the less controllable "leaky" nonverbal channels, can have detrimental social and workplace consequences. In light of theory regarding positive emotion in organizations, as well as research on the consequences of perceiving negative information, the authors hypothesized and found an interaction between nonverbal channel and emotional valence in predicting workplace ratings from colleagues and supervisors. Ratings were higher for eavesdropping ability with positive emotion and lower for eavesdropping ability with negative emotion. The authors discuss implications for the complexity of interventions associated with emotional intelligence in workplace settings.
Elfenbein
Hillary Anger
HA
Program in Organizational Behavior, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02163, USA. hillary@post.harvard.edu
Ambady
Nalini
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D017132:Workplace