What Role Does Emotion Play in Business?

For many, the world of business is seen as a place for rational thinking, a place where emotion is not welcome. Business leaders and economists praise the intellect and speak of the need for objective calculations and logical decisions when making business deals. Emotions are seen as needing to be controlled or neutralized. 

Part of this advice relates to the high pressure nature of business, where small decisions can have large consequences and competitors are always ready to replace you. Business leaders need to be able to control their anxiety, stress and fear so they can withstand the pressure. The other aspect of this advice relates to the thought that emotion distorts the decision making process. In the business world, where one miscalculation can lead to financial ruin, distortions cannot be allowed to happen. 

While it is undeniable that certain emotional states create disorganization, distortion or decreases in motivation, there are many emotions that have a positive, motivating power. After all, when we feel joyful, do we not see more things clearly? Are we not able to be more productive and take on bigger challenges?

In this video, Sadhguru offers advice on how to make emotion work for us, instead of against us. He speaks of the power of emotion, and devotion more specifically, to help us achieve goals that seem difficult or even impossible.