Sharpen your emotional edge.

Welcome to this week's edition of "The EQ Edge." Last week, I read disturbing news about a Japanese used-car dealer's toxic company culture, and it left me disgusted. At no surprise! Disgust is a feeling that detects 'toxicity' and alerts us to 'steer away' from it.

Disgust is one of the basic emotions like sadness, happiness, and fear, but we don't talk about it as much. Yet, we experience it daily. It could arise from spotting old food in the fridge, catching an unpleasant odor on the bus, hearing distressing stories on the news, or witnessing unsettling scenes in films. It's our body's intuitive way of highlighting what to steer clear of or what seems off.

 I got curious and it inspired me to learn more. To gain perspective, I turned to the work of Paul Rozin, a distinguished psychologist who served at the University of Pennsylvania for over five decades and is best-known for his contributions to the study of disgust. Enjoy!

 Emotion Spotlight

DISGUST

“Disgust evolves culturally, and develops from a system to protect the body from harm to a system to protect the soul from harm." - Paul Rozin

Disgust has evolved over time. Paul Rozin points out that it moved from just reacting to bad tastes to helping us figure out what's right or wrong. When Rozin mentions protecting our "souls", he's saying that disgust helps us stick to our core beliefs and values. It's like a warning bell that rings when something doesn't feel right.

In the world of business, understanding disgust is key. Leaders can use it to spot not just safety issues but also wrongdoings. It warns them away from actions that could hurt a company's good name. This way, it keeps both our actions and the company's reputation in check.

Understanding DISGUST

Definition: Disgust is a strong emotional response of revulsion or profound disapproval, often triggered by something perceived as unclean, offensive, or morally wrong.

Message: "This might be harmful. Stay clear."

Feeling: Nausea and a general sense of revulsion; ‘Yuck!’

DISGUST in Leadership

In leadership, disgust acts like a shield. It points out ethical issues and shows how morally strong the organization is. A place where everyone clearly rejects wrong actions stands on solid ethical ground. Using disgust at work helps prevent issues and fix them, ensuring the company stays on the right track.

As a leader, addressing disgust openly can rebuild and boost trust. It's about tackling misconduct and highlighting company values. When workers feel disgusted, they might feel lost or stuck. By giving them the right tools and support, you can boost their morale and ease their concerns.

Useful when:

• Making ethical decisions.
• Addressing harassment or discrimination.
• Safeguarding company values.
• Ensuring quality to prevent subpar products.
• Reassessing partnerships that don't align.
• Crafting policies to ward off harmful actions.

Not useful when: 

Disgust can be helpful in understanding ethics, but acting on it due to personal dislikes might limit new ideas, hurt teamwork, or push away diverse colleagues. It's good to reflect: "Is my feeling based on objective concerns or personal biases? Does acting on this fit with what the company stands for?"

Communication tips: 

When you, as a leader, sense something's not right with a colleague's behavior, approach the conversation with a friendly tone, clear facts, and a two-way dialogue. For example, you might say,

"I've noticed something that's concerning me, and I'd like to discuss it with you."

On the other hand, if your team is uneasy or upset about something, recognize their emotions and provide necessary tools and assistance. A helpful response might be,

"I see where you're coming from and the concerns you have. To help, we're organizing open sessions, providing counseling, and enhancing our training on ethics and anti-harassment. We'll navigate this challenge together."

🌟 Weekly Exercise:

This week, set aside time to look over your company's values and ethics. Begin by reading any related documents. After that, reflect on events that made you feel uneasy. Talk about it with a coworker or mentor you trust to get their thoughts. Doing this helps make sure your feelings match the company's beliefs and guides you in making future choices.

From that "eww" moment with bad food to a guide on our moral compass, disgust sure has come a long way! And as leaders, it serves us spotting what's off and catching those red flags that can harm the company's rep.

I hope this issue come useful in your leadership journey.

Always keep that emotional radar sharp and stay curious about what makes you tick.

Catch you next time!

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