Beyond Emoticons

In the business world in general, and in technology industry in particular, many still hold onto the belief that decisions, at least their own, are made rationally. Based upon both social sciences and neuroscience evidence, as well as 30 years of professional experience, I would call that belief an illusion.

In fact, through technology, neuroscientists have been able to track emotional reactions of people in action. What they are discovering is that emotions are not an occasional effect of thought and behavior—instead, they essential drive most of our behavior—even in the “rational” workplace.

There have been recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence fields that should spread light on the importance of soft skills for tech professionals and managers. In 2007, Jim LaMuth was granted his second patent on the formula for what some are calling the “emotions” chip for a computer. Ultimately, the chip is designed to help computers analyze both the direct and subtle aspects of language and respond– ethically.

Marvin Minsky, the author of The Emotion Machine  has an interesting way of thinking about emotions that  elevats the status of emotions in business so we can better understand and manage them. He suggests an alternative to thinking of emotions as a mysterious (and I add—wimpy and barely relevant) addition to thinking. He acknowledges that emotions have developed in animals and humans as states essential for survival. And, that since we tend to respect different ways of thinking, we should consider emotional states as a “different ways of thinking.”

What if that were true? What if our emotions really do help us process information and create new ideas? When I think of emotions as another way to process information, as well as another source of my creativity, my problems seem to become easier to handle. For example, I recently made a decision partially because I was pissed off. When I shared the decision with my colleague, she realized I had been angry and gave me an option to reconsider. When I reconsidered where I was coming from, I realized the bit of anger helped me to make a decision I had needed to make for several months. The emotion of slight to moderate anger helped me take the step.

I am curious. Can you think of a behavior or decision you made lately that was driven by an emotion? Anger? Fear? Joy? Hope? What part did that emotion play in your thinking process?