Communicating Emotion at Work

Emotional communication is a crucial but often underappreciated force in our working lives - it enhances or impedes occupational success, forges meaningful bonds among co-workers, and shapes the moral character of our workplaces. Collective performances of emotion define an organization's culture. They define how organizations are perceived by their customers and communities. Although often subject to perverse manipulation, the communication of emotion can make our work humane, rewarding, and even good. Communicating Emotion at Work chronicles the rich emotional experiences of employees drawn from a broad cross-section of industries and occupations. It takes a decidedly positive approach, recognizing that emotional communication is a vital and creative response to the challenges of life in complex organizations. The text introduces readers to the engaging and cross-disciplinary body of research that has emerged around organizational emotion. At the same time, each chapter is steeped in real-life emotional narratives, concrete examples, and the contemporary trends that are changing the emotional tenor of work. Designed to help readers become more mindful of the organizational practices that shape their emotional well-being, this accessible text will be particularly useful in courses focused on organizational communication, business, and organizational behaviour.

Vincent R. Waldron is Professor of Communication Studies at Arizona State University.