--- title: Don't be afraid to show your emotions description: Cry if you need to – why we shouldn’t be scared to show emotion in business. It can be positively inspiring but of course, there are a few situations where it might not serve you or your audience well. image: https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/Knowledge%20Hub/Dont%20Be%20Afraid%20to%20Show%20Your%20Emotions%20Blog%20Image.jpg --- [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/CGMD%20Blog/Images/CGMD%20Images/Logos/Marques-SoM.png?width=1&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som) [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Marques-SoM.png?width=85&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som)   - [Home](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge) - Featured - [CEO Summit](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ceo-summit-2021) - Categories - [Changing World of Work](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/changing-world-of-work) - [Digital Transformation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/digital-transformation) - [Economics](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/economics) - [Entrepreneurship](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Finance and Accounting](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/finance-and-accounting) - [Implementation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/implementation) - [Leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership) - [Logistics and Supply Chain](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/logistics-and-supply-chain) - [Organisational Behaviour](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-behaviour) - [Organisational Resilience](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-resilience) - [Strategic Marketing and Sales](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategic-marketing-and-sales) - [Strategy](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategy) - [Sustainability](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/sustainability) - [Executive Development](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/executive-development) - Content - [Articles](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) - [Whitepapers](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/whitepaper) - [eBooks](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ebook) - [Podcasts](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/podcast) - [Webinars](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/webinar) - [Videos](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/video) - Programmes - [Open Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes) - [Customised Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development/consultancy-and-custom-solutions) - [MBA Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/cranfield-mba-programmes) - [Master's Apprenticeships ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/management-and-leadership-masterships) - [The Blog](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev) [![JOIN THE KNOWLEDGE HUB](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7) ### Subscribe you blog for exclusive insights. ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/Knowledge%20Hub/Dont%20Be%20Afraid%20to%20Show%20Your%20Emotions%20Blog%20Image.jpg) read # Don't be afraid to show your emotions By Dr Diana Theodores ## Cry if you need to – why we shouldn’t be scared to show emotion in business. Crying and showing emotion in business can work in your favour and be positively inspiring. Of course, there are a few situations where it might not serve you or your audience well (responding to feedback, interviews, or critical conversations about the next steps in your career), but in key situations, showing emotion can boost your career. Presenting, giving motivational talks, pitching your vision as a leader, or coping with huge disappointment or failure all help to demonstrate the intensity of your passion or pain, and helps to create trust and share humanity. In recent politics, we have seen a lot of emotional vulnerability. Labour MP Rosie Duffield cried as she spoke on domestic abuse in parliament, Theresa May broke down in her resignation speech, and MEP’s said goodbye to one another and cried in Brussels – all showing where emotion can create a powerful and touching situation. Barack Obama is an often-cited example of someone who uses emotion in his politics brilliantly. The more his eyes well up with tears, the more he is perceived as a powerful leader and orator.   > Showing your emotions, welling up, or even shedding some tears is a gift of compassion to yourself and to others.   Touching a core of vulnerability for a moment doesn’t mean you are having a meltdown! Showing your emotions, welling up, or even shedding some tears is a gift of compassion to yourself and to others. When you experience a moment of real fear about ‘losing control’ stop, breathe and take a moment to get centered – literally feel your feet connect to the ground, stand tall and make your exhalation twice as long as your inhalation.   > Stop ‘obeying’ role models who believe vulnerability is off-limits in the boardroom and start getting your inspiration from those who model their full humanity   Stop ‘obeying’ role models who believe vulnerability is off-limits in the boardroom and start getting your inspiration from those who model their full humanity. Drop your corporate mask, allow yourself to express emotion rather than damping it down, share your vulnerability rather than blockading it, and harness your animated, passionate, energised self.   [![Impact and influence](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/1a3a1d66-a968-4eaa-b843-47b867946f29.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/1a3a1d66-a968-4eaa-b843-47b867946f29) Learn more about our [**Impact and Influence**](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes/leadership/impact-and-influence) programme, designed to lift you out of your day-to-day default style of personal ‘performance’ and instead develop your skills in operating in a zone of high impact and influence. --- **About the Author** [Dr Diana Theodores](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/people/diana-theodores-723815) is an international performance coach, Programme Director for the [Impact and Influence](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes/the-praxis-centre-for-leadership-development/impact-and-influence) programme and Director of [Theatre 4 Business](https://www.theatre4business.com/). She is author of bestselling [Performing as YOU: how to have authentic impact in every role you play](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Performing-you-authentic-impact-every-ebook/dp/B07TK5Y24G).  ---   Tags: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership), [article](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) ### Related Articles ## [When Being a Family Business Becomes a Competitive Advantage](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/when-being-a-family-business-becomes-a-competitive-advantage) *( read )* Topics: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership), [article](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) ## [The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Key Account Management](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/the-adoption-of-artificial-intelligence-in-key-account-management) *( read )* Topics: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership), [article](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) ## [The Reality Behind the Headlines: Women directors still face a glass ceiling](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/women-directors-still-face-a-glass-ceiling) *( read )* Topics: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership), [article](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article)    [![cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo.png?width=300&name=cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo.png)](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development) - - - - - - © Cranfield Management Development Ltd - **[execdev@cranfield.ac.uk](mailto:execdev@cranfield.ac.uk)  ·  [+44 (0)1234 754500](tel:+44%20(0)%201234%20754500)**  ·  [Privacy Policy](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/privacy-policy)